Better at Home is a province-wide program funded by the Government of BC and managed by the United Way of the Lower Mainland to help seniors remain independent at home and stay connected with their community.

Better at Home supports seniors to age in place with dignity, stay socially connected, and prevent social isolation, especially among seniors who are most vulnerable. The program recognizes that seniors are an important and growing part of communities and helps them with simple day-to-day tasks. Seniors are charged a fee for services on a sliding scale based on income.

Columbia Valle Better At Home is looking for Volunteer Drivers Needed

Background

The Columbia Valley Better at Home is a program that helps seniors with simple day-to-day tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities. The program is funded by the Government of British Columbia and managed by the United Way of the Lower Mainland. The Better at Home program is designed to address the specific needs of local seniors, allowing communities to assess their local strengths, identify gaps in services for seniors, and design Better at Home to enhance local capacities to bridge these non-medical seniors support service gaps. Services are delivered by a mix of volunteers, contractors, and paid staff, which depends on the capacity and human resource availability in local communities.

Mission

Better at Home program helps seniors live in their own homes for longer by providing simple non-medical home support services.

Vision

Seniors are able to live independently and in good health in their own homes longer than is presently the case.

Intake Process

For more information or to apply to the Better at Home program, please contact Columbia Valley Better at Home at:

Family Dynamix
250-342-5566

Program coordinator
250-342-1110

Clients will be asked to fill out an intake form and to provide proof of income.

Columbia Valley Better at Home Services

The Better at Home services are delivered in Columbia Valley by the Columbia Valley Better at Home program of the Family Dynamix Association. It is a not-for-profit service that supports the independence of local seniors by providing basic, non-medical support. The program is open to persons residing in the Columbia Valley age 65 and older.

The following services are delivered by volunteers or individuals under contract with Columbia Valley Better at Home:

  • Light Housekeeping

  • Friendly visiting

  • Transportation to medical appointments

  • Grocery shopping and delivery

  • Prescription pick up and delivery

Columbia Valley Better at Home Services

Light Housekeeping

Services include:

  • Dishwashing

  • Stripping dirty sheets off a bed and replacing them with clean ones and if time permits putting the dirty ones in the washer

  • Bathrooms – Sink, tub, mirror, floors, toilet

  • Floors – Sweeping & Vacuuming

  • Dusting

Light Housekeeping does not include:

  • Use of a foot stool or ladder

  • Dusting or wiping above 6 feet

  • Scrubbing floors on hands and knees

  • Work outside of the house including yard, patios

  • Washing/drying clothes or bedsheets or folding and putting them away

Please Note

  • This service is provided by volunteers or individuals under contract with Columbia Valley Better at Home and is contingent upon their availability.
  • Clients must provide all cleaning supplies, including gloves.
  • Housekeepers need to be permitted to wear their own indoor-only shoes to comply with Occupational Health & Safety Standards.
  • Clients need to be present for the entire duration of the visit.

Transportation & Grocery Shopping:

Volunteers transport clients in the volunteers’ vehicle to do grocery shopping, attend appointments or participate in social activities in the community.

Please Note

  • This service is provided by volunteers and is contingent upon their availability. An assessment of the requested service may be required.
  • For transportation services, seniors must be able to independently transition into and out of the vehicle.
  • All volunteer drivers are 21+ years of age and hold a valid BC driver’s license with a minimum of 5 years of driving experience, a clean Driver’s Abstract, and appropriate insurance coverage.
  • All volunteers must have a clear criminal record check for all programs.
  • Vehicles and drivers are not able to accommodate wheelchairs.
  • Clients are responsible for all parking costs.