What does the program offer?
The Better at Home program offers non-medical services to our clients. We run 3 programs that are connected.

- Emergency Preparedness
- Home Support
- Food Security

Who is this program for?
The program is for residents of Cortes Island that are
• 65 years of age or older
• Between 60 & 65 with mobility or health challenges*

This week our focus is on Emergency Preparedness.
With all the wildfires in the province, the rain this week was very welcome! We know that for rural island communities sheltering looks very different compared to larger communities when a climate emergency occurs. From wildfire to flood rains, trees down on roads and power lines, heat waves, cold spells and other unexpected emergencies can result in the severing of a main communication line which can create a service cut for all islanders, impacting phone, internet and tv. Access to 911 can also be offline for many or all residents. This happened to a neighbouring island in December 2022 and since then we have been meeting regularly to figure out good ways to prepare people and how to communicate when that happens.
We have put an emergency kit together for our Better at Home Clients. It contains:

• Crank/Solar Power Radio Flashlight with Siren
• Emergency Blanket
• Whistle
• S.O.S Food Lab - Emergency Food Rations
• S.O.S Food Lab - Emergency Purified Drinking
• Life Kit
• Brochure with tips

The radio will give seniors access to local announcements to keep them informed when there is no power, internet or phone. The remaining contents of the kits can help with sheltering in place.

If you are passionate about Emergency Preparedness and want to help the community, CKTZ 89.5 fm is looking for COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT VOLUNTEERS - including emergency communications.

Volunteers pick a minimum of one 30 minute time slot per week, no limit on maximum. CKTZ provides full training and it is super easy! Especially if you live withing walking distance of the station, they would love to hear from you.
Cortes Community Radio Society (250) 935-0200 www.cortesradio.ca/contact-us

Chimney Cleaning (Summer)
There are approximately 63,000 fires per year in Canada and one out of 10 is caused by a wood stove, a fireplace or chimney fire. Most chimney fires occur with wood-burning fireplaces.

Chimney Cleaning is part of our services to prevent a chimney fire.

Gutter Cleaning (Summer)
Have you ever thought of the possibility of gutter fires? Several fires are actually caused by poorly cleaned gutters that contain a large amount of debris. Gutter fires are more frequent in summer since the temperature is warmer and the climate is dry. Branches, pine needles, wood or paper residue, anything that ends up in the gutter for an extended period of time for that matter without there being much rain is at risk of catching fire. It doesn’t take much for a fire to burn: a spark can become a large fire. In Western Canada, several house fires were actually caused by gutters not cleaned properly. Several forest fires are also responsible for such incidents.

Cleaning gutters is part of our services to prevent a gutter fire.

BAH Food Security
We offer bi-weekly or monthly meals through our Meals on Wheels program that we run with Sunflower Foods, in-home food prep support with a local contractor & veggie boxes (summer) from Big Fir Farm. In the winter we will have a weekly community lunch that we will organize together with the New Horizons for Seniors program.

A Huge bouquet of roses to the Sunflower Food Team (Carie, Bruce & Joel) and to Anne & Sam from Big Fir Farm to make the meals and produce boxes a reality for our clients.

BAH Home Support?
We offer light housekeeping and light gardening, small home repairs, wood stacking, help with outdoor chores etc... We offer up to three hours of service every month.

FAQ

Can anyone become a BAH client?
You can become a client if you are a resident of Cortes and 65 years of age or older or between 60 & 65 with mobility or health challenges.*

* If you became a client between March 2021 and September 2022 the age requirement was lower as the eligibility was for all CISS Members of 50 and over. We continue to serve those clients (grandfathered in).

How do I sign up?
If you are interested in signing up to be a client, the BAH client application form is at the bottom of this article as an attachment or you can call 250-204-2116 to sign up over the phone. We can email you an application (betterathomecortesgmail.com) or mail you a hard copy if you prefer.

Is it free?
It is free for low income seniors, and market rate for seniors with an income above the BC average. The service is offered on a sliding scale, so you may pay a fee based on your income. (Cortes Island’s median household income is nearly $30,000 less than the provincial average.)

Where does the money come from?
The Government of BC, through the Ministry of Health, provides funding to the United Way to manage the Better at Home program across BC.

The CISS holds the LOA with United Ways and the Support Our Seniors Society runs the actual program since May 2023.

What financial information do you need when I apply?
Service fees are determined by Line 15000 (Total Income) on your Canada Revenue Agency income tax Notice of Assessment. These fees-for-service are fed back into the local program in order to serve more seniors.

When you fill in the 2023-2024 application we will need line 15000 of your most recent tax return. Once you complete the application we confirm that you are eligible for the program. You then receive an agreement with the specific Category of subsidy. Please see the chart below to find out which Category you would fall into or call 250-204-2116 to find out.

Does it go on forever?
No, we have to re-apply every year and we have to apply for each service. The Emergency preparedness was a one time grant only. The Food Security is a pilot project for BC so we will have to wait and see. The BC Government committed to 2 years of funding for the BAH Home Support program in March 2023 so we do have a good chance we will be able to run it again next year if we apply again.

If I sign up, do I need to use all programs?
No, some clients have housekeeping help (BAH Home Support), some join the Meals on Wheels program (BAH Food Security), some use every service we offer and others signed up so they can receive the FREE Emergency Kit (BAH Emergency Preparedness).

Is there a waiting list?
For some services; yes. For most services; no. We recommend that you fill in the application and we will be able to tell you what we can start with and what has a waiting list.

Can I change my mind?
Of course, any time. If you said no to Meals on Wheels on your original application and 6 months down the road you realize you would benefit from having a nutritious delicious homemade meal once a week, or some help with light housekeeping, you can just call or email and we will make those changes.

Is BAH Home Support the same as Augmented Home Care?
No, we compliment each other. AGH provides in-home services to people of all ages experiencing long or short term medical challenges which prevent them from managing some aspects of daily living such as housekeeping, light chores, shopping and transportation to medical appointments. This program is designed to augment both Island Health Home Supports and Better at Home (but use of those services is not a requirement).

Do you have enough staff/contractors?
We are looking for someone to deliver our veggie boxes on Wednesdays (for the next 6 weeks) to some of our clients that cannot come to the market themselves.

We are always looking for additional:
- housekeepers
- someone to help with outdoor chores
- wood stacker/splitter
- handy person that can fix things.

We require you to sign a confidentiality agreement, submit a criminal record check (easy online application) and we pay $30/hr.

Interested to become a client? Send an email to Ester: betterathomecortesgmail.com and I will send you an intake form (confidential) to fill in. Or call 250-204-2116 and I can help you fill in the form over the phone or take down your address so I can mail you a hard copy.

Do you know somebody who could use this service?
Please tell them about this program or let us know and we can check in with them.

Better at Home ~ Cortes Island
Support Our Seniors Society
betterathomecortesgmail.com