No Place Like Home: Comprehensive Approach to Improve Aging-in-Place for Ethnocultural Minority Older Adults in British Columbia

This capstone explores how British Columbia’s (BC) policies can be more inclusive to the values and needs of ethnocultural minority older adults (EMOAs), such as aging-in-place, home and community services, and informal caregiver support. I first illustrate the BC context by explaining the service delivery model and the changes that occurred over time. Then, my literature review synthesizes the needs and service gaps ethnocultural groups experience. Finally, my research explores innovative policy options using insights generated from international and provincial jurisdictional analysis, expert interviews, and Canadian Institution of Health Information data. Through the interviews with service providers, I unpack how implementation affects EMOAs engagement. For example, I assess how specific targeting and tailoring styles meet the preference of local ethnocultural demographic and improve service utilization. My analysis recommends provincial policies that reflect the diverse values of ethnocultural groups and create flexibility for service providers to innovate according to local demographic demands.