<p>This week a group of Parksville-Qualicum residents presented a petition to their MLA, calling for more respite for caregivers who look after their aging loved ones. It came as <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/seniors-advocate-long-term-care-beds-bc-9.7064263" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">B.C.’s seniors advocate pointed out</a> there are nowhere near enough publicly-funded long term care beds to match the growing number of seniors in the province. Some island communities have <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-municipalities-rank-high-on-list-of-places-with-largest-percentage-of-older-residents-1.7107927" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the highest populations of seniors in Canada</a>, so on today’s episode we hear from folks in Parksville-Qualicum and the Comox Valley about how some people are struggling to look after their aging spouses, with few opportunities for a break. We’ll also speak with the head of an island hospice society about how non-profits like hers are trying to support people, and their loved ones, and the end of their lives.</p>