Email from Tiffany Trownson Re: Home Health - Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licences
Request from BC Care Providers Association to include home health care in the eligibility for intermunicipal mobile business licences.
From: Tiffany Trownson Sent: Friday, July 19, 2024 1:52 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Cc: Business Licenses businesslicences@viewroyal.ca Subject: Home Health - Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licences
Dear Mayor Tobias and Council,
As one of the 12 municipalities included in the Greater Victoria Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licence partnership, I am reaching out on behalf of our home health members and the seniors they serve across Greater Victoria.
Last count, there are 300 private home health organizations across BC. Currently, home health operators are not included in the eligibility for Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licences (IMBLs), which requires them to hold a separate business licence in all communities they serve. By nature of their work, home health care service providers are mobile, and therefore should be considered eligible for IMBLs.
Below is a detailed summary of BCCPA’s position as it pertains to this issue.
Re: Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licence for Home Health Care
Recommendation
BCCPA recommends the members of the Greater Victoria Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licence partnership (District of Central Saanich, City of Colwood, Township of Esquimalt, District of Highlands, City of Langford, District of Metchosin, District of North Saanich, District of Oak Bay, District of Saanich, Town of Signey, District of Sooke, City of Victoria, Town of View Royal) support the inclusion of home health care in the eligibility of intermunicipal mobile business licences. This licence is currently available for construction, trades, mobile hair salons, and catering.
By acting in this area municipal governments can support the sustainability of the private home health sector, and support seniors to age in their place of choice. Further, reducing costs for operators will lead to more competitive pricing for seniors.
Please note that some municipalities in a partnership may consider home health businesses eligible for a mobile business licence, however some may not. BCCPA hopes that bringing this forward will support alignment among partnerships and transparency to home health providers who may not be aware that this is available to them. With business licence purchases made online, eligibility for mobile businesses licences need to be explicit to ensure qualified businesses are aware of this option.
Supporting an aging population:
By the end of the decade, close to one in four Canadians will be a senior, up from 17% now. ^1 RBC has identified Canada’s aging demographic as one of the two most significant existential threats facing the country over the coming decade (the first being climate change). This will result in broad economic and health system challenges for Canadians and a host of other countries across the world. Action is needed now to support an aging demographic.
A recent (2020) National Institute of Ageing (NIA)/TELUS Health Survey found that 91 percent of Canadians of all ages, and almost 100 percent of Canadians 65 years of age and older, plan on supporting themselves to live safely and independently in their own home for as long as possible.^2 However, as referenced by NIA, about one-quarter of Canadians aged 75 and over has at least one unmet need with respect to their activities of daily living. Many older adults who live alone also experience issues such as loneliness, falls, malnutrition, and inactivity.
About home health care:
Home care and home support options (respectively medical care, and non-medical support, together referred to as home health care) enable seniors to get the help they need at home. Services range from publicly subsidized care, which is delivered through the health authorities, to customized private-pay options, which can include medical care, transportation, companionship, and home making. Commonly, family paid home support provides seniors and their families with more flexibility and greater ability to ensure that they can focus on the things that will really help them stay independent for as long as possible.
Business Licences in Greater Victoria:
Business licences are issued to ensure that local and visiting businesses are operating safely and legally, including complying with health and safety and zoning requirements. Home health businesses provide smaller jobs with less employees than trades and contractors, with less threat of safety hazards such as fires or damage to property, that would require first responders or management of public services. Comparatively, mobile home health services generate less profit margins than trades and contractors; if the cost of the business licence exceeds the cost of revenue, lack of competition in the market will impact service availability in the community.
Under the current system, home health care providers operating in the North Shore areas are required to hold distinct business licences for all locations in which they operate, regardless of the location of their physical office. By the nature of their work, home health providers are mobile, and commonly operate across several municipalities, adjusting their operations to accommodate client needs, and the availability of workers. This means that the vast majority work across multiple jurisdictions. Currently, across the province there are 17 intermunicipal mobile business licence partnerships between 104 communities.
The cost of multiple licences (the cost of which varies considerably across jurisdictions) add up to be significant for smaller organizations, which are already run on slim margins, and are experiencing increased cost pressures relating to staffing, and inflationary pressures. The administrative cost of applying for and managing multiple licences is also burdensome. Reducing financial and administrative costs for operators will lead to more competitive pricing for seniors.
BCCPA and EngAge BC are recommending that this program be expanded to include home health care service providers.
About BCCPA
BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is the leading voice for B.C.’s continuing care sector. Our growing membership base includes over 450 long-term care, assisted living, and commercial members from across British Columbia.
BCCPA members support more than 19,000 seniors annually in long-term care and assisted living settings and 6,500 independent living residents. Additionally, our members deliver almost 2.5 million hours of home care and home support services each year.
Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Tiffany Trownson Director of Public Affairs | EngAge BC BC Care Providers Association EngAge BC
1424-4710 Kingsway Burnaby, BC, V5H4M2 w 604-736-4233 ext #243 www.bccare.ca
Our office is located on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and we are grateful to live, learn and work on these shared lands.
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