One out of every six Burnaby seniors is living in poverty, and many are fighting an “invisible” battle for survival.
That’s according to the executive director of Burnaby Community Services, Stephen D’Souza.
He was reacting to new statistics released this week showing 16.1 per cent of locals aged 65 and older fall below the Low Income Measure – making less than 50 per cent of the area’s median household income. Burnaby’s rate of seniors’ poverty is double the provincial average and the third-highest of any B.C. city, behind Richmond (20.3 per cent) and Surrey (16.5 per cent).
D’Souza said he was “shocked but not surprised” to see the stark numbers.
“We’ve anecdotally felt it for a long time; we have seen the decline in the seniors that we’re serving; we know that the cost of living is going up and their incomes are staying the same.”
B.C.’s rate (8.8 per cent) was the highest in Canada and has doubled since 2000.
D’Souza said the report should serve as a “call to action” for policymakers and citizens alike.
“I think often times seniors are invisible in our society,” he said. “They struggle, often times alone in their homes, and when they’re out, there’s not a lot of eye contact – especially when they’re on a bus and people don’t want to give up their seat, so they kind of look away.”
Something as simple as making eye contact, offering a seat and starting a conversation can help, he said. Next, people can volunteer with organizations such as Burnaby Community Services.
“I think we’ve lost some of the empathy that we have for seniors who are struggling with so much,” D’Souza said.
Local and regional organizations are working together to address isolation, poverty and various health issues faced by seniors.
Both living costs and income levels must be considered when developing solutions, he said – from rent controls to increasing Guaranteed Income Supplement and Old Age Security rates. The province is also working on a poverty-reduction plan.
“We’re hoping that this report is seen as a call to action to really see meaningful change in our community and policies.”
