Stay Better at Home with the Community Connector
By Barbra Fairclough
The new position of Community Connector (CC) is now being established in many areas throughout BC including here in the Shuswap. The pilot for this program ran last year in Fraser Health Authority. It is for seniors 60 and over. CC’s receive referrals from a health professional such as a family physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, or interior health clinician, while Better at Home receives referrals from within the community.
Heather O’Brien, Regional Coordinator for the Shuswap Region of Better at Home says the new CC’s are welcome and she looks forward to the capacity these roles bring to serving seniors in this area, in a complimentary way to the to BaH services.
Through this program, people are empowered to take a lead on their own health, with the support of vibrant, well-connected community and health sectors. This social prescribing model can lead to healthier and more resilient people and communities.
The CC can help you to connect with family and caregiver supports such as social activities and programs, physical activity and exercise programs.
CC’s also help participants access transportation support, language or translation support, emotional support, culturally appropriate programming.
Heather confirms this social prescribing model is worldwide and it is an emerging model for service delivery. She notes that there has been some recognition that seniors living rurally do not have access to the same resources as in cities or urban environments.
The Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing in a systematic review of seven global studies found that 20% of respondents reported improvements in their health status. Also, results from The Way In Network in Calgary that 76% pf participants reported feeling less lonely and isolated and a full 83% felt the program helped them access needed community services.
“We have a great team.” Heather says there has been a lot more funding to support healthy aging. Shuswap BaH has six outreach coordinators and a total of ten service providers. Fifteen volunteers across the region also provide services.
Heather also mentions that Interior Health is working to ensure things are streamlined so that a CC can work with family and caregiver supports between different area such as Vernon and Kamloops.
The positions for CC’s are being hired now and like the BaH program, the CC program in the Shuswap is being administered by the Eagle Valley Community Support Society. Heather says her role has expanded to support the hiring and rolling out of this CC program. Those who fill these positions are familiarizing themselves with the local services and the different agencies that provides them.
The Better at Home program in the Shuswap and the Community Connector Program serve the wider Shuswap Region including the Village of Chase, North and South Shuswap, Enderby, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and surrounding areas.
To find out more or to become a participant contact BaH at 250-253-2749 or sbahintake@outlook.com. Participation in services is voluntary and there are no fees to participate.
