If the elderly are to stay at home and independent, they often need a helping hand. There are friends, family and neighbours.
And, now, there is a provincial program with a local arm.
The aim of Better at Home, being run in the Tri-Cities by Share Family and Community Services, is to keep the frail elderly independent and in their homes longer. To that end, volunteer drivers are being sought to help seniors get to doctor appointments.
"Share has always been providing services to seniors but this is the first program of this size that specifically focuses on seniors," said Tom Hetherington, director of programs and services with Share.
Last spring, the society was chosen as the service provider for Better at Home, a $15-million provincial program that was rolled out last spring in 60 cities through the United Way.
Hetherington said Better at Home will offer Tri-City seniors grocery shopping support through Community Volunteer Service for Seniors and is in the early stages of starting a program to offer light housekeeping (non-medical) services with fees based on a sliding scale.
But for now, Share is trying to get its new transportation program running and will need a group of volunteer drivers before it can offer any services.
"We kind of need the community to step up," said program co-ordinator Paola Wakeford-Mejia, who said the goal of the program is to get seniors to their medical appointments during the day. She said she would be particularly pleased if seniors who have valid drivers' licences would volunteer.
"They are available during the day and I like the idea of seniors helping seniors," Wakeford-Mejia said, noting that volunteers will be reimbursed for transportation costs.
There are, however, requirements for being a volunteer with this program. Participants must:
be 21 years or older;
have a valid driver's licence;
have proof of ICBC insurance;
provide a driver's abstract;
undergo a Criminal Record Check;
have a reliable vehicle;
commit for a minimum of three months;
be able to drive (and stay for the duration of the appointment) for up to six trips per month (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Ideally, she would like to be able to match drivers with seniors so there can be some consistency but it's not a requirement. It's also important to note that volunteer drivers aren't expected to deal with heavy and complicated equipment, such as oxygen tanks, but should be able to help get a wheelchair or another mobility aid in and out of their vehicle.
Hetherington said Share is pleased to be able to offer Better at Home as part of its basket of services and has already fielded inquiries from interested seniors.
In addition to the wheelchair program, Share is offering light housekeeping services, such as bathroom cleaning, dishwashing and cleaning and sorting the freezer through two local housecleaning businesses. But the program does not provide personal hygiene assistance, help with medical needs, meal preparation or yard work, and seniors pay fees for the housekeeping service based on their income, which will be means tested.
To find out more about the programs, volunteer or book a service, call Paola Wakeford-Mejia at 604-937-6991 or 604-936-3900, or email [email protected].
