2.  Identify current issues in both IL and AL  Review benefits of IL and AL and interaction with home support/care services  Recommend actions to support, sustain and promote growth

3.  BCSLA Steering Committee established  Scan of current research and reports in BC, across Canada and other jurisdictions  Information requests to Ministry of Health and Health Authorities  Survey of BCSLA Members on IL and AL  Analysis of Data/Information/Research

4. Important housing/care options IL and AL Housing for seniors in BC need to grow and evolve

5.  Communal living environment, cost-effectiveness through economies of scale, and a supportive community of neighbours Enables socialization, Respite for supporting caregivers, Opportunities for observation of the resident, and A platform for cost-effective delivery of care services

6.  Positive satisfaction surveys  Residents feel very safe and experience a high quality of life  Continued high demand for units and a decline in vacancy rates over the past years

7.  Improved health outcomes  Reduced use of hospital and physician services  Reduces reliance on higher cost residential care

8.  Reported increased vacancies in Health Authority publicly subsidized Assisted Living residences  Inconsistencies in whether residents are offered Health Authority Home is Best/Home First program across the province

9.  Vacancy rates of over 5% in some publicly subsidized Assisted Living sites  Publicly subsidized Assisted Living is not growing  IL steady increase of 20% over the past 5 years

10.  Reduce inappropriate hospitalizations and assist in a senior’s transition back home  Survey found rarely provided to residents living in IL

11.  BC Seniors Advocate reported a significant percentage of BC seniors in residential care may be incorrectly housed – with AL or community care (including IL) a better option  Evidence that AL service sector can manage clients in expanded format (e.g. clients with mild to moderate dementia) with appropriate facility characteristics

12.  IL and AL could be more fully utilized and expanded to accommodate clients with a broader range of health/social needs and reduce reliance on more costly institutional care.  Better integration of home support and home health services, including end of life/palliative care, could extend a senior’s stay potentially avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and admission to residential care

13.  Three recommendations to address consumer demand and improve access across the province  Most cost effective housing and care option that could be expanded  Recognition that seniors with low incomes cannot easily access as most are fully private pay

14.  Government, including Ministry of Health, Health Authorities, Assisted Living Registrar, all branches of government and the Seniors Advocate, acknowledge that Independent Living is unique and distinct from Assisted Living in the continuum of housing and care services and plays a vital and essential role in assisting seniors to live independently in congregate environments

15.  Government, including BC Housing and municipal governments, support the development of more Independent Living housing as a cost-effective alternative to Assisted Living and Residential Care for those seniors who would benefit from these congregate care living environments.  Government partner with BCSLA to develop strategies, including reviewing the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program, to promote the growth and greater access for all seniors to Independent Living housing units across the province, especially in the rural areas.

16.  Five recommendations to support seniors living in IL  Focus on better integration of home health services with IL hospitality services  Goal is to enable seniors residing in IL as long as possible – recognizing that this is their home of choice

17.  All existing home health and support programs be made available when needed to seniors living in Independent Living to supplement existing services and support their continued health and well-being.  Government revise the definition of the term ‘home’ in the Home and Community Care policy to clearly include Independent Living housing as a senior’s home. This policy will also direct the delivery of Health Authority Home is Best programs and contracted home support services.

18.  Health Authority provide information on Home is Best/Home First programs to clearly identify that seniors who live in Independent Living are eligible for this program following hospitalization or by referral due to chronic health care condition  Government develop an effective way of communicating the revised policy and new term ‘home’ to the public and all Health Authority workers to ensure consistency in the application of the policy for all seniors regardless of where they live.

19.  BCSLA work together with the Ministry of Health and Health Authorities to establish approaches to improve communication, planning and implementation of home health services, including Home is Best, in Independent Living housing to allow seniors to continue to reside in this housing option as long as possible.

20.  Three recommendations aimed at improving provincial utilization of Assisted Living  Need for more provincial consistency in access to Publicly Subsidized AL

21.  BCSLA together with the Assisted Living sector, Seniors Advocate, Ministry partners and Health Authorities develop access, education and marketing strategies to fully utilize the current Assisted Living capacity including a transparent, consistent assessment and admission process across BC.  Ministry of Health explore regulatory and policy options to allow registered Assisted Living facilities to provide two prescribed services by resident (rather than by site) allowing more flexible, tailored care for residents.

22.  Ministry of Health explore options to allow experienced Assisted Living providers with the necessary qualifications the option of arranging for additional prescribed services on a short term basis to facilitate a senior’s hospital discharge or premature entry into residential care.

23.  Recommendations on: Supporting the Continued Growth of IL; Supporting Seniors Living in IL & Improving Utilization of AL  Which recommendations are the most critical to move forward on?  What are the biggest challenges in implementing these recommendations?  How can we work together to overcome these challenges?