The just released 2016 Census points to a ever-greying Canadian population - for the first time in history, those 65 and older outnumber children.
With this in mind, the BC Green Party has promised to invest in seniors.
Kelowna-Lake Country candidate Alison Shaw says she's heard horrifying stories from seniors and staff at a number of residential care facilities - she says many seniors live in under-staffed and unregulated environments.
She cites a recent report from the Residential Care Facilities Quick Facts Directory that shows the BC Liberals are failing the elderly. The report, which compiles information for all publicly funded seniors’ facilities, found that 91 per cent of care homes did not meet the Ministry of Health’s staffing guideline of 3.36 hours of care per senior every day.
Shaw says the Greens promise to invest an additional $200 million dollars over four years to ensure public and private care homes are properly staffed - and they'll also invest $35 million to help seniors stay in their own homes.
She adds the Green Party platform is fully costed.