Home and Community Care information

Northern Health operates a number of services for seniors in communities across Northern British Columbia.

Seniors have a wide range of needs. Many can live independently in their own homes. Some need in-home or community health services to help them live independently. Other seniors need specialized housing with support services so they can keep living independently. Still others can no longer live independently, and need 24 hour a day nursing support in a long-term care facility.

Northern Health provides a number of services for seniors and people with disabilities in communities across Northern BC. These include:

• Home support and home care nursing programs;
• Adult day centres, providing health services and recreational programs for seniors who can continue to live in their own homes with on-going help;
• Independent living units with support services and assisted living units for seniors who can no longer live in their own homes but can be mostly independent with specialized housing and on-going health services. These usually run in partnership with BC Housing and local community service organizations; and
• Long-term care beds for seniors who need nursing support around the clock.

If a senior or a person with a disability needs to access a program, a long-term care case manager (who are also registered nurses) will assess the client and recommend health services that will meet the person's unique needs.

The needs of seniors and people with disabilities are unique. So if you or a member of your family needs a home and community care service, we'd recommend you contact the home and community care department nearest you. Under each community in our new contacts section, we have local contact numbers to put you in touch with health care professionals who can help you.

External links

BC Housing is an agency of the BC Government that provides a range of housing options for seniors. Key programs include:

• Independent Living BC
  http://www.bchousing.org/programs/independent
• Information for Seniors
  http://www.bchousing.org/applicants/elderly_renter