The province has a growing population of seniors and not enough places to care for them.

A new report from the Office of the Seniors Advocate B.C. shows that while the number of long-term care beds in the province has grown by about five per cent in recent years, the population of those aged 65 and over has increased by nearly 20 per cent.

As a result, more than 7,000 people are on a waitlist for long-term care.

“And that number has gone up by 200 per cent in the past 10 years,” said Dan Levitt, B.C.’s Seniors Advocate.

“Then we look at how long they are waiting. They are waiting an average now of 10 months.”

Levitt warns the added demand is forcing seniors to remain at home or in hospital longer than appropriate and putting added pressure on families and the health-care system.

This is a reality known all too well by Lisa Dawson, president of the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC. Dawson cared for her father at home while awaiting placement in a long-term care facility.

In the years since, she says capacity issues paired with more complex resident needs have led to a worsening situation for both staff and those they care for.

“Even with the best supports at home, it gets to a point where the care requires so [much] we just can’t provide at home,” she said.

In her role as association president, Dawson regularly hears from staff expressing exhaustion and frustration. She says if changes aren’t made now, the issue will only continue to get worse.

“If we can’t keep up with the conditions that we have to attract, retain, and recognize our staff, then what do we expect our care to be?”

Levitt says 16,000 additional beds are needed over the next decade, but there is no detailed capacity plan beyond 2030.

“We want to see a commitment from government to make that kind of investment that seniors deserve,” he said.

CityNews reached out to the B.C. Ministry of Health for comment but did not hear back prior to deadline.