Summary

• Long-term Care at Home program equips seniors’ homes with technology for virtual care and monitoring supplemented with proactive care management and home-support services
• The program aims to improve health outcomes for clients, reduce caregiver burnout and help reduce long-term care wait lists by enabling seniors to receive the care they need in their own homes

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More seniors in B.C. communities are benefiting from virtual supports, helping them stay independent and connected to their community longer.

“Meeting the needs of a growing and aging population means delivering care in smarter, more flexible ways, including right in seniors’ homes,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This innovative expansion will help more seniors remain safely at home, reducing pressure on hospitals while improving health and well-being for seniors and their families.”

Long-term Care at Home (LTC@Home) program equips seniors’ homes with monitoring technology for virtual care and provides proactive care management and home-support services. Initially launched in July 2024 at KinVillage in South Delta and Saanich’s Broadmead Care Society, the pilot phase of the program is supporting more than 275 seniors.

More seniors can stay at home longer

The program is expanding to support as many as 2,700 seniors in B.C. by 2028. Growth in Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Island Health is underway and discussions for expansion in Northern Health and Interior Health have begun. While the initial pilot was focused on seniors living near the participating long-term care communities, the next phase will be delivered through health authority teams, expanding access and improving co-ordination with existing home- and community-care supports.

“Seniors prefer to live in their own home, receiving supports and assistance in a space that is familiar and comfortable,” said Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care. “Knowing that loved ones are monitored and caretakers alerted in the event of an emergency gives families peace of mind and helps to alleviate caregiver burnout.”

Through use of technology, the program remotely monitors seniors in their homes to track falls, activity levels, medication adherence, indoor temperature and wandering. Devices include wearable pendants with two-way emergency-calling capability, wall-mounted devices and discreet sensors throughout the home. No cameras or microphones are used as technology is designed to respect clients’ privacy.

The program is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Aging with Dignity agreement, which provides as much as $47 million through 2028. Funding flows to health partners to support implementation and operating costs, hiring program management and implementation staff, technology procurement and contracts for program evaluations.

Quotes:

Rick Gill, participant, KinVillage –

“Respite and remote monitoring have offered enhanced safety. They go above and beyond.”

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health –

“Using technology to keep people safe and comfortable at home is a key part of helping individuals age in place. Long-term Care at Home is an effective service for eligible seniors who are nearing the need for long-term care or waiting for placement in a care home. It enables community health teams to monitor clients for changes in their condition, respond quickly and adjust care plans as needed.”

Dan Levitt, B.C. seniors advocate –

“The vast majority of older adults want to age in their own homes, and expanding the Long-term Care at Home program will help more people achieve their goal of aging in place. The additional monitoring, home support and respite care associated with the program will also help family caregivers avoid burnout and provide vital care for their loved one at home as long as possible. Seniors should be able to choose how they want to live in their later years, and this program provides another important option in the continuum of care.”

Quick Facts:

• The program supports adults who are at risk of needing long-term care or assisted living within the next 12 months, with priority given to those already on the wait list.
• Program support includes people experiencing frailty, cognitive decline or chronic health conditions, as well as other factors that increase their care needs and who may be able to remain safely at home with the right supports.