Sunshine Coast Faces Long Waits for Long-Term Care Beds

Residents of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia are grappling with significant delays in securing long-term care beds, a situation that has escalated into a pressing crisis. Over the past decade, wait times for these essential services have risen sharply, leaving caregivers exhausted as they seek assistance for their loved ones.

Evi Blueth, a primary caregiver for her partner Ivan, who battled both cancer and Alzheimer’s, expressed her frustration with the system. “I felt like they weren’t hearing me; they didn’t believe me,” she stated. Blueth believes the needs of the Sunshine Coast are being overlooked by provincial authorities. “I don’t know why the Sunshine Coast, for some reason, is neglected,” she lamented.

Ivan was placed on the waitlist for a long-term care bed in 2023. Blueth described her experience in navigating the system and communicating with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) as “bad.” She reported a lack of responsiveness and accountability, saying, “They’re rude. They don’t answer you.”

According to data released in July by the provincial Office of the Seniors Advocate, the median wait time for long-term care within VCH has soared to 231 days, marking a staggering 250 percent increase since 2018. Blueth mentioned her wait was even longer, as she had been seeking help for two years prior.

In response to these concerns, VCH acknowledged the challenges families face while awaiting placement. “We understand how difficult this situation can be for families and the frustration while waiting for placement of a loved one in a long-term care site,” the health authority said. VCH is exploring innovative solutions to increase the availability of long-term care beds, noting that wait times can fluctuate based on various factors, including medical urgency and the availability of appropriate beds.

Looking ahead, the situation may worsen. Recent census data indicates that approximately one-third of the populations in Gibsons and Sechelt are over the age of 65. Blueth warned, “There’s going to be a tsunami of older people needing the kind of help that I’ve needed.” Ivan ultimately secured a spot at Silverstone Care Centre in Sechelt in 2025, just three months before his death. Reflecting on her struggle, Blueth recalled a nurse’s astonished comment upon Ivan’s admission: “How did you do this by yourself?”

Currently, there are only 204 long-term care beds available on the Lower Sunshine Coast, along with four hospice spaces, bringing the total to 208 beds. VCH reported that about 40 high-need individuals are still waiting for placement in long-term care. The Office of the Seniors Advocate indicated that more than 7,200 people across British Columbia are on the waitlist, representing a 200 percent increase since 2016. Dan Levitt, the B.C. Seniors Advocate, characterized the situation as an urgent crisis, stating, “The Sunshine Coast is perhaps the epicentre of where this is happening. We’re falling short. We need 50 percent more beds built in the next decade.”

Local government officials are striving to address the growing concern. John Henderson, the Mayor of Sechelt, expressed his dismay at the handling of the situation, stating, “I think it’s bordering on inhumane the way we are not addressing this.” Silas White, the Mayor of Gibsons, echoed this sentiment and urged the provincial government to take immediate action to bridge the long-term care gap.

In a statement, the Health Ministry highlighted that over the past five years, the government has invested approximately $3.5 billion in primary care, home health, long-term care, assisted living, and respite services. Nevertheless, for residents like Blueth, the pressing question remains: “Why aren’t we getting better care?” The increasing demand for long-term care solutions on the Sunshine Coast underscores the urgent need for systemic change to ensure that vulnerable populations receive the support they deserve.