New data highlights the increasing demand for long-term care

This week, the Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA) released new data that highlights the increasing demand for long-term care and the widening gap between seniors’ needs and system capacity. The findings build on a report released by the OSA in 2025 and reinforce what families tell us: people affected by dementia need timely access to care and practical supports while they wait.  

Since 2019, long-term care waitlists have doubled. Shortfalls are projected to increase sevenfold in the next 10 years. These are not just statistics; they reflect the experiences of people and families who are forced to wait for the care they desperately need.  

“Long-term care becomes necessary for many people living with dementia as it progresses, yet long waitlists mean people often wait months without the support they need,” says Jennifer Lyle, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “Addressing long-term care shortages must be a part of a broader dementia strategy.” 

People affected by dementia need timely support from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. This includes investments in home support, assisted living and community-based programs that help people live at home longer. First Link® dementia support services are also an essential part of this solution, providing people with dementia and their families with access to information, programs and services, to help them manage a life changing diagnosis. 

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. supports the Office of the Seniors Advocate’s recommendations to address the long-term care shortage and will continue to advocate for expanded access to support services and long-term care spaces, while partnering with the Ministry of Health, health authorities and care providers to ensure that people living with dementia receive person-centered care.