B.C. BENEFITS & PROGRAMMES TO SENIORS
B.C. Housing Seniors Supportive Housing: http://www.bchousing.org/programs/SSH
The B.C. government is now providing some subsidized supportive housing units. The programme provides support services such as 24-hour response, light housekeeping, meals, and social and recreational activities. Rent is geared to income, and the supportive housing services are an added expense.
Office of the Assisted Living Registrar: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/assisted/
This website provides information on the mandate of the Office of the Assisted Living Registrar, how to contact the Registrar if you have a concern about health and safety in an assisted living residence, and how to find assisted living residences.
HAFI: Home Adaptations for Independence http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Home_Renovations
The Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program provides financial assistance to help eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities in British Columbia to continue to live in the comfort of their home.
SAFER ( Shelter Aid for Elderly Residents) http://www.bchousing.org/programs/SAFER
The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program helps make rents affordable for BC seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rents for eligible BC residents who are age 60 or over and who pay rent for their homes.
Choice in Supports for Independent Living
Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) is a self-directed option for eligible home support clients. CSIL clients receive funds directly from their local health authority to purchase their own home support services. CSIL clients become employers who manage all aspects of their home support from hiring and supervising staff to overseeing how CSIL funds are spent.
People who cannot manage CSIL on their own may be eligible if a client support group or an individual designated as a representative through a Representation Agreement is acting as the CSIL employer.
CSIL clients have control over who they hire to provide personal assistance, when services are scheduled and how tasks are carried out.
Health and Seniors Information Line. Toll-free in B.C.: 1-800-465-4911 Victoria: 250 952-1742.
Home and Community Care of B.C.: http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/hcc/
Government Ministry of Health. You can find an overview of services for seniors here.
Health and Seniors Information Line. Toll-free in B.C.: 1-800-465-4911 Victoria: 250 952-1742.
The free, 1-800 telephone line offers seniors a single source for information about government services, including information about health programs, as well as other non-health services and initiatives. With the new service, telephone operators will also be able to answer individual questions about seniors’ services provided by federal and provincial ministries and agencies.
Healthlink: http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/
HealthLink BC provides access to non-emergency health information and advice in British Columbia. Information and advice is available by telephone, a website, a mobile app, and a collection of print resources, including the BC HealthGuide Handbook. They can be reached at 811.
Office of the Ombudsperson: https://www.bcombudsperson.ca/
The Office of the Ombudsperson receives complaints from seniors dealing with a variety of provincial public authorities. If you believe you have been unfairly treated by Pharmacare, the Medical Services Plan, the Ministry of Health, a hospital or health authority, ICBC, or the Public Guardian and Trustee – they can investigate.Contact them if you have a problem with one of these or any of the other authorities under their jurisdiction, which you’ve been unable to resolve.
Home Owner Grant: http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/hog/
The Home Owner Grant is available to individuals who are Canadian citizens or Landed Immigrants and reside permanently in British Columbia. A homeowner is entitled to the grant if he/she occupies an eligible residence as his/her principal residence. The grant is not automatically given, it must be applied for each year.
PharmaCare subsidizes eligible prescription drugs and designated medical supplies, protecting British Columbians from high drug costs. PharmaCare provides financial assistance to British Columbians under Fair PharmaCare and other specialty plans.
PharmaCare Plan: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharme/
PharmaCare subsidizes eligible prescription drugs and designated medical supplies, protecting British Columbians from high drug costs. PharmaCare provides financial assistance to British Columbians under Fair PharmaCare and other specialty plans.
BC’s Fair PharmaCare plan started May 1, 2003. Fair PharmaCare focuses financial assistance on BC families who need it most, based on their net income.
Register now to receive your maximum financial assistance under Fair PharmaCare. To register immediately, register online or call Vancouver: 604-683-7151,
Rest of BC: 1-800-663-7100,
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM .
After providing your information online or by telephone, you will immediately be assigned temporary assistance and a confirmation of your registration will be mailed to you with a consent form. The consent form must be signed and returned to PharmaCare to continue your assistance.
Fair PharmaCare – Monthly Deductible Payment Option
Many individuals and families do not have a deductible under the Fair PharmaCare plan and PharmaCare assists them with their eligible prescription costs right away.
However, some families have a deductible based on their family net income. PharmaCare offers a payment option to help these individuals and families.
Once enrolled in the Monthly Deductible Payment Option, families pay their Fair PharmaCare deductible in monthly installments and receive PharmaCare assistance with eligible prescription costs right away. This opportunity is entirely optional.
