Caregivers as Partners in the Care of Residents in Long-term Care and Assisted Living

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC, in alignment with Doctors of BC’s 2016 policy paper “Circle of Care: Supporting Family Caregivers in BC” and the recommendations from the 2020 report “Staying Apart to Stay Safe” by the Office of the Seniors Advocate, recommends that:

Healthy Aging and Preventing Frailty

Doctors of BC Position: Preventing frailty requires a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach. Doctors of BC calls on the government to update its provincial healthy aging strategy to include prioritization of frailty prevention and improving access to and funding for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that support frailty prevention. Older adults and their caregivers should also be supported to utilize programs, services, and technology to stay connected with their community.

Improving the Lived Experience of People with Dementia

Doctors of BC Position: Dementia impacts a significant number of British Columbians and this impact is expected to increase with an aging population. Doctors of BC advocates for an increased focus on prevention, and seeks to improve the lived experience of people with dementia through educating and training, increasing one-on-one care in long-term care, and promoting a palliative approach to care.

Circle of Care: Supporting Family Caregivers in BC

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC recommends that the BC Government formally recognize caregivers as a key partner in health care delivery and require the consideration of caregiver needs in health care and social service planning and provision. In addition, Doctors of BC identifies other potential areas for enhanced caregiver support including access to respite care, patient/system navigation, and financial assistance programs.

Developing Strategies to Deliver Specialized Geriatric Expertise

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC urges the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Authorities to develop strategies to deliver specialized geriatric expertise to physicians providing care to frail older persons in rural and underserved areas of BC.

Building Bridges: A Call for a Coordinated Dementia Strategy in British Columbia

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC supports improved care for dementia patients by increasing patient and healthcare provider education, providing comprehensive care, adopting a chronic disease management approach, and by considering a palliative approach to care when appropriate.