At Home with Better at Home

By Barbra Fairclough

Better at Home is a program that helps seniors with day to day tasks by coordinating simple non-medical services so they can continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities.

A call to Central Intake at Better at Home goes to Heather O’Brien, Regional Coordinator. Heather oversees four outreach areas of the Shuswap, which include Chase and the North Shuswap, Enderby, Sicamous and the South Shuswap.

Heather works with and oversees four outreach coordinators and based on the needs expressed by a caller and their location, follow up is dispatched to one of the coordinators in the appropriate service areas.

Better at Home receives direct provincial funding through the United Way and in the Shuswap, The Eagle Valley Community Support Society hosts the BaH program.

A client of BaH has access to a range of services that evolve with clients as personal needs change. Participation is voluntary and there is no fee to become a client. Non-medical supports, information and referrals are all available to assist current clients and seniors living independently.

BaH takes a coordinating role in locating support services for residents throughout BC. Heather says they are doing more resource referrals for people who don’t know where to go for services. With a hub referral system, it is efficient in finding and accessing referrals to services.

Tara Wilson (left) Enderby-Salmon Arm Outreach Coordinator and Beryl Pearson program participant from Enderby. (Photo contributed)

In the Shuswap area when people have had a change in their life situation and are in need of support to remain living in their home, BaH can be of service. Heather confirms, “We are having an impact on helping people live in their homes longer.” The client base is 160 residents in 25 to 30 communities, all with unique and individual needs.

BaH can refer different services in each community depending on the local resources. Services like light housekeeping, prescription and grocery pick up are common needs of residents in the Shuswap services areas.

Transportation is a service that BaH has previously offered by utilizing volunteer drivers. Heather says now that there is a ride service in the Shuswap referring residents to this service has been a big help to meet those transportation needs.

BaH has become part of the Safe Seniors Strong Communities initiative announced by the provincial government during the pandemic in response to the impact of COVID19. A collaboration between BC211 (information and referral service), the Ministry of Health and the United Way helped in improving local support for vulnerable people.

BC211 is a free confidential service, available since 2020 that connects people to helpful resources in their community such as BaH.

Heather says “We are always happy to have volunteers. Seeing the effects of your work makes it quite rewarding. You have a direct positive impact on people’s lives, and you make a difference by helping them stay in their home longer.”

For more information, access to services or to volunteer call Heather O’Brien at 250 253 2749.