Community Articles (listed by posting date)
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General News · 22nd January 2025
Mercedes Grant
Healthy Communities Series: Free & Accessible Air Travel for Medical Care
While living in a remote island community comes with many benefits, it also comes with the very real challenges of being geographically distant from essential and in some cases, life saving health care services. Travel costs are only rising alongside everything else, and they can be a major barrier for folks seeking the specific care they may need. Keeping in mind that this lack of financial support is a failure of our government bodies - and not a failure of the folks who need access to medical care - let’s explore how certain organizations are attempting to fill the support gap that is needed.
Hope Air
Hope Air is a Canadian non-profit organization that provides free air travel to individuals in need of medical treatment. Specifically, it helps people who require medical care that is not available in their local area, connecting them to healthcare facilities by covering the cost of flights, typically through donations of frequent flyer miles or flights provided by volunteer pilots. Hope Air's mission is to ensure that financial or geographical barriers do not prevent people from accessing the medical care they need. They serve individuals across Canada, particularly those in remote or rural areas who may face difficulty in reaching specialized healthcare services. This organization works with volunteer pilots, airlines, and partners to arrange flights, ensuring that those who are ill or injured can travel for consultations, treatments, surgeries, and other medical needs. https://hopeair.ca/
Angel Flight (Canada)
Angel Flight is a volunteer-driven charity offering free air transportation for non-emergency medical treatment, primarily for those who cannot afford the travel costs or do not have access to public transportation options. Primarily operates in Western Canada but offers services across the country on a case-by-case basis. https://angelflight.ca
Air Canada Foundation
The Air Canada Foundation provides support for children and families in need, including those who require transportation to medical appointments. While not a direct air travel service like Hope Air, the foundation may arrange for travel or assist with airfare through their charitable programs. They typically help children who need to travel for critical treatments or surgeries, often through a partnership with Hope Air or other charitable organizations. https://www.aircanada.com
The Canadian Cancer Society (Travel Assistance Program)
The Canadian Cancer Society offers travel assistance to cancer patients in some provinces. This can include transportation to and from cancer treatment centers or accommodations during treatment. While this service doesn’t always include flights, it can be a valuable resource for those who need help accessing specialized cancer care. The program provides travel assistance based on need, including gas cards, accommodations, and sometimes transportation for out-of-town treatments. https://www.cancer.ca/
The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
While primarily known for providing accommodations for families with sick children, RMHC also supports travel assistance in certain situations, especially for families requiring medical care far from home. Nationwide, with houses in multiple provinces. https://www.rmhc.ca
Seniors Helping Seniors
We offer rides for seniors on and off island with volunteers (reimbursement for mileage is covered). Carina Verhoeve is our SHS coordinator. You can call her Monday-Friday between 10& 5 at 250-935-6793
Klahoose Bus - Free
We offer one free monthly trip with the Klahoose Health Bus for each client and more trips for those that need medical treatment on a regular basis. Bookings must be made by 8:00 AM, the day on which you’d like to ride. It leaves every Tuesday and Thursday. For booking, call/text or email the lovely driver, Ian Ross (250)203-8360 or email ianrossklahoose.org Please mention to Ian you are a Better at Home clients when you book your seat.
If you are not a Better at Home client yet and want to sign up, please contact Ester at betterathomecortesgmail.com or 250.204.2116
While living in a remote island community comes with many benefits, it also comes with the very real challenges of being geographically distant from essential and in some cases, life saving health care services. Travel costs are only rising alongside everything else, and they can be a major barrier for folks seeking the specific care they may need. Keeping in mind that this lack of financial support is a failure of our government bodies - and not a failure of the folks who need access to medical care - let’s explore how certain organizations are attempting to fill the support gap that is needed.
Hope Air
Hope Air is a Canadian non-profit organization that provides free air travel to individuals in need of medical treatment. Specifically, it helps people who require medical care that is not available in their local area, connecting them to healthcare facilities by covering the cost of flights, typically through donations of frequent flyer miles or flights provided by volunteer pilots. Hope Air's mission is to ensure that financial or geographical barriers do not prevent people from accessing the medical care they need. They serve individuals across Canada, particularly those in remote or rural areas who may face difficulty in reaching specialized healthcare services. This organization works with volunteer pilots, airlines, and partners to arrange flights, ensuring that those who are ill or injured can travel for consultations, treatments, surgeries, and other medical needs. https://hopeair.ca/
Angel Flight (Canada)
Angel Flight is a volunteer-driven charity offering free air transportation for non-emergency medical treatment, primarily for those who cannot afford the travel costs or do not have access to public transportation options. Primarily operates in Western Canada but offers services across the country on a case-by-case basis. https://angelflight.ca
Air Canada Foundation
The Air Canada Foundation provides support for children and families in need, including those who require transportation to medical appointments. While not a direct air travel service like Hope Air, the foundation may arrange for travel or assist with airfare through their charitable programs. They typically help children who need to travel for critical treatments or surgeries, often through a partnership with Hope Air or other charitable organizations. https://www.aircanada.com
The Canadian Cancer Society (Travel Assistance Program)
The Canadian Cancer Society offers travel assistance to cancer patients in some provinces. This can include transportation to and from cancer treatment centers or accommodations during treatment. While this service doesn’t always include flights, it can be a valuable resource for those who need help accessing specialized cancer care. The program provides travel assistance based on need, including gas cards, accommodations, and sometimes transportation for out-of-town treatments. https://www.cancer.ca/
The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
While primarily known for providing accommodations for families with sick children, RMHC also supports travel assistance in certain situations, especially for families requiring medical care far from home. Nationwide, with houses in multiple provinces. https://www.rmhc.ca
Seniors Helping Seniors
We offer rides for seniors on and off island with volunteers (reimbursement for mileage is covered). Carina Verhoeve is our SHS coordinator. You can call her Monday-Friday between 10& 5 at 250-935-6793
Klahoose Bus - Free
We offer one free monthly trip with the Klahoose Health Bus for each client and more trips for those that need medical treatment on a regular basis. Bookings must be made by 8:00 AM, the day on which you’d like to ride. It leaves every Tuesday and Thursday. For booking, call/text or email the lovely driver, Ian Ross (250)203-8360 or email ianrossklahoose.org Please mention to Ian you are a Better at Home clients when you book your seat.
If you are not a Better at Home client yet and want to sign up, please contact Ester at betterathomecortesgmail.com or 250.204.2116
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