Cortes Island seniors and community members who are post hospitalization, need and deserve good care at home. In 2003, the Ministry of Health considerably narrowed the extent of services funded. This change has worked a hardship on many of us. Recently, VIHA has proposed a study of health needs on Cortes and we are confident, support to help persons stay in their homes will be identified as a worthy and necessary service.

In January 2014 the CCHA started the Extended Home Support Program (EHSP) to provide services not provided by VIHA but are essential to people living here such as transportation to shopping and doctor, healthy meals, moving firewood and light housekeeping. The EHSP assists persons who wish to age in place on Cortes, and not in institutional care. The EHSP also cares for persons after a recent hospital stay, discharged, but unable to "chop wood and carry water" as most of us do to live here. EHSP does light housework, moves firewood, transportation to the doctor (on island) and shopping and in some instances we provide nourishing meals for those temporarily unable to cook. Mostly our services are provided for two or three weeks.

To date, nineteen Cortes residents have been served. We do not charge for this service but ask for a nominal fee for the meals. Funding has come from our Regional District Grant in Aid, a Seniors Society contribution, BC Gaming and some private donations. Of course, it all comes down to money, doesn't it? We have $4,800 left in funding and time is running out. No further grant money is in sight.

The goal has been (and still is) to convince VIHA to fund this service. Besides the social value of being able to provide supportive service, the Extended Home Support Program has kept people out of hospital, relieving pressure on overworked services, and saving the VIHA system significant dollars.

This is a funding appeal to keep this service alive while we persist with our original goal to secure VIHA funding. We have made it easy to donate at a secure website, Canada Helps which will issue tax receipts for all donations. Just click on the donate button on our Section page.

Thank you.

The CCHA Board of Directors