The Essential Health Service BC Seniors are Missing from their Care

Three out of every four long-term care residents would benefit from Speech-Language Pathologist services, so why doesn’t BC fund them?

Every year, as many as 10,000 British Columbians move into long-term care. 40% of these people move following a hospital stay which may be unexpected. There are currently over 35,000 BC residents in long-term care1. If everyone affected by long-term care signed this petition, the BC government would hear the message loud and clear: our seniors need SLP services in long-term care!

Sandra was enjoying her daughter’s 40th birthday when she began to feel unwell. Her speech was slurred, and her smile fell crooked. Sure enough, at 73 years old, Sandra was having a stroke. She spent the next 8 weeks in hospital trying to regain her strength, her speech, and her ability to swallow without coughing. Unfortunately, Sandra’s husband passed away and she was living alone.  It was decided that Sandra would not go home. Instead, she was placed on a waitlist for long-term care. A bed became available sooner than expected, so Sandra was quickly discharged from hospital to secure her spot. She moved into a publicly funded long-term care home, where she is now living.

The long-term care home offers many recreational activities, such as bingo and seasonal crafts, but Sandra’s aphasia, which is difficulty talking after stroke, makes it hard to participate. Sandra eats in the dining room at a table with 3 other ladies each day, but she can’t chat with them. When she was in hospital, her food was pureed to make it easier to swallow. She is confident her swallow has improved, but no one at her long-term care home can “upgrade her diet” to include regular foods. She remains eating pureed food. 

Sandra’s daughter remembers the Speech-language Pathologists (SLPs) at the hospital taught her strategies to talk with her mom, and tested her mom’s swallow, providing exercises to help it improve. Her daughter is confident that an SLP would be able to support her mom at the long-term care home. When she asks the manager, she is told that SLPs aren’t funded in most long-term care homes. They would have to pay for private services, something Sandra and her daughter can’t afford.  

Sandra’s story is not unique. Indeed, in their Profile of Residents in Residential and Hospital-Based Continuing Care1 the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that over 70% of long-term care residents scored between 0-3 out of 6 on a social engagement scale. They also report that over 75% of long-term care residents in BC have conditions that SLPs help, but only 0.2% of these residents actually saw an SLP in 2020-2021.

Who are SLPs?

Speech-Language Pathologists are trained in diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. SLPs work with all ages, from infants to adults. They can be found in health units, child development centers, schools, hospitals, and private clinics. In long-term care homes, SLPs can help people with dementia (63% of residents1), aphasia (5% of residents1), swallowing problems (75% of residents1), Parkinson’s Disease, and many other common conditions that affect participation and quality of life.

In more than 100 health authority operated long-term care homes in BC2, there are less than 4 full-time SLPs.  That’s less than one for each health authority in the province. The impact of this is that more and more people like Sandra are living years of their lives in long-term care homes without enough communication and swallowing support. Many residents can’t travel to clinics or outpatient hospitals for help, and many communities lack free outpatient services. SLPs in long-term care homes can work with the staff and residents to increase communication and participation. They can also retest swallows and ensure people like Sandra can eat what they enjoy, safely.  

What is being done?

Speech and Hearing BC3, a not-for-profit professional association is engaging in grassroots efforts to increase funding for SLPS in long-term care. Through letters, presentations, and information campaigns, they have succeeded in meeting with the ministry of health. However, the ministry explained that British Columbians aren’t asking for increased funding. Simply, the government won’t fund something the public isn’t requesting.

How you can help—a call to action

In addition to signing this petition, write or call your local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and request increased funding for SLPs in publicly funded long-term care homes!

You can find your local MLA’s contact information by visiting the website for The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, clicking the Find my MLA tab, and entering your postal code.