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General News · 2nd September 2024
Ester
What does the program offer?
The Better at Home program offers non-medical services to seniors on Cortes.

- Home Support
- Food Security
- Transportation

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*

BAH Food Security
We offer 3 meals a month through our Meals on Wheels program that we run with Sunflower Foods, in-home food prep support & veggie boxes (summer) from Big Fir Farm. In the spring, fall and winter we have regular community lunches that we organize together other organizations. (next lunch: Thursday September 12th at Mansons Hall)

BAH Home Support
We offer light housekeeping and light gardening, small home repairs, wood stacking, help with outdoor chores etc... We offer up to two to three hours of each service per month. We have a waiting list for some services.

Tech Support
We offer in home tech support and can help you with any digital questions – from ipad settings to printer connections, program updates on your desktop, mobile phone apps, fraud prevention and general trouble shooting.

Transportation

Klahoose Bus
We offer one monthly trip with the Klahoose Health Bus for each client and more trips for those that need medical treatment on a regular basis.

Seniors Helping Seniors
We offer rides for seniors on and off island with volunteers. Carina Verhoeve is our SHS coordinator. You can call her Monday-Friday between 10& 5 at 250-935-6793

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. We continue to serve those clients (grandfathered in).

How do I sign up?
If you are interested in signing up to be a client, you can call 250-204-2116 to sign up over the phone. We can also 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 Support Our Seniors Society runs the program. We apply for additional grants/funding where we can to close any gaps in our program and expand the program as much as we can to support the needs in the community. Stay tuned for our Choose to Move program & the Movement Wellness Series starting this fall.

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 2024-2025 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.

Does it go on forever?
No, we have to re-apply every year and we have to apply for each service. The program runs from April 1, 2024-March 31,2025

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. 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 on a regular basis, 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?

No, we never do. We are always looking for additional:
- housekeepers
- gardeners
- someone to help with outdoor chores
- wood stacker/splitter

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.

Who administers this program?
The Support Our Seniors Society holds a letter of agreement with United Way. We are looking for some additional board members, if you are interested in supporting this awesome program by joining the board, please be in touch.

Our mission is to support our island seniors by coordinating programs and practical assistance. Foster self- sufficiency and independence, support self-care to stay in their homes longer, promoting health and digital literacy, food security to reduce poverty, emergency resiliency, social inclusion and enabling community connectedness.

Better at Home ~ Cortes Island
Support Our Seniors Society


Coordinator: Ester Strijbos
250-204-2116 or betterathomecortesgmail.com