Pathways | Better at Home - Community Based Senior Support Services for Independent Living

Better at Home - Community Based Senior Support Services for Independent Living - Vancouver Coastal Health Area

Food, Home Health Care, Services for Seniors, and Transportation

Provided by United Way BC

Helps seniors with simple day-to-day tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities. Local organizations provide a range of non-medical home support services.

Volunteers, contractors, and paid staff from local non-profit organizations provide Better at Home services. By helping seniors remain at home longer, they support a diverse, inclusive and vibrant neighbourhood for everyone.

Better at Home services vary from community to community. They are designed to complement existing services and are based on the unique needs of local seniors. Services may include:

Friendly visiting: A weekly visit from a volunteer in the home or out in the community.
Friendly Voices: Regular phone contact to check in on isolated seniors.
Friendly Readers: volunteers share time with seniors with a book, magazine or newspaper.
Transportation: Volunteer drivers provide transport to and from appointments, social or recreational activities, when available. Advance notice may be required, particularly for an off-island trip.
Light yard work: Assistance with raking leaves, mowing lawns, pruning and maintaining safe outdoor spaces.
Minor home repairs: Provides a variety of services to assist with home maintenance and upkeep. Where a service cannot be provided directly, individuals may be referred to someone with the appropriate expertise.
Light housekeeping: Assistance with light household chores such as vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms and laundry.
Grocery shopping: Provides assistance with grocery shopping to help individuals maintain independence at home
Van Excursions: Outings are organized to take small groups to places and events on and off-island. Excursions help seniors stay connected with their community in a social environment.
Snow shovelling: Provides seasonal snow shovelling assistance to help maintain safe access to and from the home.

Not all services are available at all locations. Services vary from location to location.

United Way manages 67 Better at Home programs across the province. If you are a senior living in a community that has a Better at Home program, you may be eligible. You can apply by contacting your local Better at Home provider. A program representative will speak with you, assess your needs, and suggest services that may be of interest to you.

The Better at Home program is subsidized by the Government of BC. Some services may be free. Seniors who receive Better at Home services will also pay a fee for some services based on their income.

Location finder: http://www.betterathome.ca...

604-268-1312 (General Info Line)

Public email: info@betterathome.ca

Website: http://betterathome.ca/

604-506-0952 (Squamish)

Public email: betterathome@squamish.net

Website: https://www.squamish.net/divisions...

604-982-3323 (Bowen Island)

Public email: kim.sinclair@nscr.ca

Website: https://nscr.ca/people/kim-sinclair/

604-485-4008 (Powell River) ext. 2

Public email: betterathome@inclusionpr.ca