The provincial government is standing firm on its decision to withdraw funding for overtime and agency staffing for long-term care providers as of Oct. 31, despite advocates’ warnings about the devastating effects this could have on B.C.’s seniors, and one care society is appealing to the government to reconsider.

The Ministry of Health started discussing a funding model for long-term care in 2019, but those talks stalled when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, says Three Links Care Society CEO Janice Boyle. At that point, temporary pandemic-related funding was introduced to help long-term providers cover costs related to staffing shortages and overtime, a measure the government says was due to the “exceptional circumstances” at the time.

Related: • B.C. long-term care operators hit hard by fu

See Full Page