Island Health explained that cancellations are normally limited to a single appointment, but in this case several were cancelled. The health authority also rejected claims of an overtime ban, stating that overtime staffing is permitted for critical visits.

Island Health reported that about 97.9 % of its home‑support visits are completed as scheduled, indicating that the weekend incident is not typical for the province’s service.

B.C. Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt said the situation shows a systemic failure in home‑care delivery across the province. He called for a provincial plan and increased funding to address staffing shortages and improve reliability.

For the Ainsleys, the missed visits meant they could not attend personal events or travel, and they now bear the emotional and financial strain of providing round‑the‑clock care. Ainsley noted that even with subsidies, the service costs thousands of dollars each month.