Seniors in British Columbia are feeling 害羞草研究所渋nvisible and forgotten害羞草研究所� as they fall thorough the cracks in existing provincial support systems, their advocate says.

In his first report as B.C.害羞草研究所檚 senior害羞草研究所檚 advocate, Dan Levitt says affordability was the top concern during visits with hundreds of seniors in more than 20 communities in April.

One in four seniors in B.C. earn less than $23,000 a year, an amount that falls below the poverty line, Levitt told a news conference on Wednesday.

The report outlines what Levitt heard during his tour, confirming that B.C. seniors on fixed incomes are disproportionately affected by the high cost of living.

It found many seniors are unable to absorb increased costs for housing, food, medical equipment, mobility aids and other necessities for healthy aging.

Levitt said more low-income seniors are at risk of homelessness and many are turning to food banks as they struggle to make ends meet.

The report makes several recommendations for the B.C. government, starting with redesigning the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program.

Levitt said the program is failing to ensure low-income seniors aren害羞草研究所檛 paying more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. The benefit isn害羞草研究所檛 tied to inflation or rent increases, he added.

The report also calls on the province to increase its seniors supplement, currently set at a maximum of $99.30 per month for single seniors, and index it to inflation.

Levitt said seniors also told him they don害羞草研究所檛 have what they need to keep living in their homes for as long as they can. He called on B.C. to eliminate the daily charge for home support, noting that neither Alberta nor Ontario have such a fee.

Levitt expressed further concern about a shortage of long-term care and assisted-living beds, saying people are spending thousands of dollars and travelling long distances to visit loved ones who have moved away to receive care.

The challenges will only persist as B.C.害羞草研究所檚 population ages, he said.

Seniors are the fastest-growing age group in the province, and by 2036 they will make up 25 per cent of the population, he said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e generally healthier and living longer. More people will be over 65 in the next decade (than) any other time in our history.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 good news, but the question is, are we prepared?害羞草研究所�

Levitt said the short answer is 害羞草研究所渘o.害羞草研究所�

He said demand for long-term care and other services for seniors will grow 害羞草研究所渆xponentially害羞草研究所� in the coming decade.

His office will undertake what he described as a 害羞草研究所渟ystemic review害羞草研究所� of wait lists for long-term care and assisted living facilities.

害羞草研究所淲e want to see much more infrastructure being built where seniors live,害羞草研究所� he said.

The report released Wednesday further recommends that B.C. provide the $300 shingles vaccine at no cost for seniors, while developing a cross-ministry strategy to support seniors with key targets and performance measures.

Levitt said funding the vaccine and eliminating the home-care fee are steps B.C. could take immediately, while starting work on the long-term recommendations.

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