Caring for BC's Aging Population

Improving Health Care for All
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July 11, 2012
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Correction 10/Sept/2012: The original version of this report, published July 11, 2012, contained an error in the calculation of hospital occupancy rates. Footnote 25 on page 18 indicated that hospital occupancy rates were calculated by dividing the number of hospital beds staffed and in operation by the average daily number of inpatient acute care days, resulting in a BC hospital occupancy rates in 2009/10 of 97 per cent. The corrected calculation divides the average daily number of impatient acute care days by the number of hospital beds staffed and in operation, resulting in a BC hospital occupancy rate in 2009/10 of 105 per cent. The report and the summary have been corrected.

This study finds that access to home and community care services for seniors in BC has declined significantly over the past decade. Seniors who cannot get home and community care are more likely to end up in hospital, leading to hospital overcrowding and long wait times for all British Columbians. Recommendations include improving access to home and community care and creating a more integrated system, which will improve seniors' health and independence and reduce pressure on hospitals, the most expensive part of the health care system.

 

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