With the announcement of the B.C. budget by premier Clark comes disappointment for some seniors' agencies in the province.
"[This] budget represents a major disappointment for B.C. seniors - especially in light of the ombudsperson's recommendations to strengthen home support, and increase care hours in long-term care facilities," said Art Kube, president of the 80,000 member Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of B.C.
One of the main components outlined in the new budget is the B.C. Seniors' Home Renovation Tax Credit.
It will be a refundable personal income tax credit to assist with the cost of permanent home renovations that provide individuals age 65 and over with increased independence, allowing them the flexibility to remain in their own homes longer.
The credit is worth up to $1,000 a year and will be available to seniors, or family members sharing their home, whether they rent or own, and help to reduce the costs of structural changes, such as hand rails, ramps or walk-in bathtubs.
But Kube doesn't believe it's nearly enough.
"The $15 million for non-medical home support is an insult to seniors," said Kube. "Not only is it insufficient in scope, but the program completely ignores the criteria laid down by the ombudsperson. The report calls for standards, guidelines or directives, none of which are present in this program."
"What's really needed - as COSCO has proposed for years - is a comprehensive home-care and home-support program designed to help seniors live with dignity and independence in their own homes," said Kube. "Not only is this good for seniors' quality of life, but it reduces the intake into residential care and acute care. Improving seniors' lives in this way would actually reduce overall health-care costs, and especially capital costs."
Prince George Council of Seniors manager, Lola-Dawn Fennell was concerned when the B.C. Seniors Care action plan was announced last week, and she believes the provincial government should have been more prepared as our population grows older.
"It's not like the government didn't know seniors were living longer and that a big population bulge of baby boomers were about to become seniors," said Fennell.
Fennell also says the tax credit will do nothing to benefit low income seniors.
"If they are seniors with a fair amount of income perhaps, but a senior who is living on a fixed income is not going to benefit from this program."
Seniors will now have to wait for the next election before they see any more funding.
"We have long memories, on election day we will remember the budgets which failed completely to address the needs of seniors," said Kube.
The Seniors Home Renovation Tax Credit comes into effect on April 1, 2012.
