Message from the B.C. Government As the population of British Columbia continues to grow, and grow older, we need to support seniors to be as healthy and as independent as possible. We know that older adults prefer to age in their own homes and communities, and may need access to appropriate services and supports in order to do so. The Government of B.C. is committed to promoting healthy, active aging, and providing information and resources about the services seniors and their families and caregivers need to make good decisions about their health, care, and overall well-being. The BC Seniors’ Guide is a prime example of this commitment. While more and more seniors are accessing resources online, many seniors tell us that they would rather receive information that they can hold in their hands. With the BC Seniors’ Guide, we make a wealth of useful information available in print and online, in Chinese, English, French, and Punjabi, to reach as many B.C. seniors as we can. In addition, government partnered with the First Nations Health Authority in 2014 to adapt the BC Seniors’ Guide into a new BC Elders’ Guide for First Nations and Aboriginal older adults. You can find the BC Seniors’ Guide and the BC Elders’ Guide online at www.gov.bc.ca/seniorsguide. In this guide, you will find information and resources on benefits, healthy living, health services, housing, transportation, personal security, finances, and other services. In addition, there is a listing directory at the end of the guide, and questions in each section to consider as you plan to remain as healthy and independent as possible as you grow older. We hope the BC Seniors’ Guide will help you find what you’re looking for. For more information on government support for seniors, visit the SeniorsBC website at www.SeniorsBC.ca. The 11th edition of the British Columbia Seniors’ Guide was printed in 2015. Information may change from the time of publication. Visit www.gov.bc.ca/seniorsguide for periodic updates to this guide, as well as translated versions available in Chinese, French and Punjabi. BC Seniors’ Guide - 11th Edition i BC SENIORS’ GUIDE Message from the B.C. Government ........................i Key Contacts ....................................................1 Your Benefits ....................................................7 Your Lifestyle ....................................................11 HEALTHY LIVING AND WELLNESS. .14 SeniorsBC.ca ................................................14 Healthy Families BC .........................................15 Physical Activity Line ........................................15 BC Seniors’ Community Parks ................................15 Move for Life! DVD .........................................15 Healthy Eating for Seniors ....................................16 First Nations Health Authority - Eating Healthy and Being Active ..........................................17 Brain Health for Seniors. .17 Health Promotion Workshops ................................18 It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking ...........................18 Alcohol and Aging: Know the Facts ...........................19 Fall Prevention ...............................................20 BC Brain Injury Association ..................................21 Government of B.C. Accessibility Website .....................22 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES .................22 Age-friendly BC .............................................22 Non-Medical Home Support: Better at Home .................23 BC Healthy Communities Society ............................23 Healthy Families BC Communities ...........................23 Service BC ..................................................24 Elders Transportation Program ................................25 Welcome BC ................................................25 ii www.seniorsbc.ca Immigrant Services. 26 Foreign Country Contacts ....................................26 GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN ............27 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Line .............27 Child Care Subsidy Program ..................................27 VOLUNTEERING ..............................................28 Volunteer B C ................................................29 Volunteer Canada. .29 EMPLOYMENT ................................................29 WorkBC.ca – Mature Workers ................................29 Targeted Initiative for Older Workers ..........................30 EDUCATION ...................................................30 Post-Secondary Tuition ......................................30 English Language Training. .31 RECREATION AND CULTURE ................................31 55+ BC Games ..............................................31 Hunting and Angling (Fishing) Licences for Seniors ............32 BC Parks Campsite Fee Discount .............................32 Royal BC Museum. 33 Your Health ......................................................35 BRITISH COLUMBIA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM .............38 HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ..........38 Fraser Health ................................................38 Interior Health ..............................................39 Island Health ................................................39 Northern Health. 39 Vancouver Coastal Health ....................................39 Provincial Health Services Authority ..........................40 First Nations Health Authority ...............................40 HEALTHLINK BC ..............................................40 HealthLink BC 8-1-1 ........................................40 Is it an emergency? ...........................................41 HealthLinkBC.ca. .41 BC Seniors’ Guide - 11th Edition iii BC HealthGuide Handbook ..................................41 BC Health Services Locator App ..............................41 MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN. .42 Regular Premium Assistance ..................................42 Temporary Premium Assistance ...............................43 Medical Benefits .............................................43 Supplementary Benefits ......................................44 Who is Health Insurance BC .................................44 BC Services Card ...............................................45 Medical Services Only ...........................................45 Dental Care ....................................................46 TRAVEL TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ....................46 Travel Assistance Program ....................................46 Health Connections .........................................47 PHARMACARE ................................................48 Fair PharmaCare Plan. 48 Registering for Fair PharmaCare ..............................49 What’s covered?. .49 Increased Assistance. .50 Monthly Deductible Payment Option .........................50 For More Information about PharmaCare Plans ................50 BC EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES ........................51 ACUTE, HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES .......52 Acute Care (Hospital Care) ......................................52 Home and Community Care ....................................53 Home and Community Care Services .........................53 Who is Eligible? .............................................54 Obtaining Services. 54 Case Management and Care Coordination .....................55 Home Support ...............................................55 Choice in Supports for Independent Living ....................55 Community Nursing and Community Rehabilitation ..........56 Adult Day Services. 56 Caregiver Relief/Respite ......................................56 Assisted Living ...............................................56 iv www.seniorsbc.ca Assisted Living Registrar. .57 Residential Care .............................................57 Group Homes ...............................................58 Family Care Homes ..........................................58 End-of-Life Care. 58 Hospices and Hospice Palliative Care ..........................58 BC Palliative Care Benefits ...................................59 PATIENT CARE QUALITY OFFICES ..........................59 Fraser Health Patient Care Quality Office ......................59 Interior Health Patient Care Quality Office ....................60 Island Health Patient Care Quality Office ......................60 Northern Health Patient Care Quality Office ..................60 Vancouver Coastal Health Patient Care Quality Office ..........61 Provincial Health Services Authority Patient Care Quality Office ..61 Patient Care Quality Review Board ..............................61 LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS ..62 Self-Management BC, University of Victoria ...................62 Bounce Back: Reclaim Your Health ...........................63 Family Caregivers of British Columbia ..........................63 University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine Intercultural Online Health Network (iCON) Public Forums and Online Access ...................................64 Pain BC .....................................................64 Patients as Partners/Patient Voices Network .....................65 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES .......65 Alzheimer Society ............................................66 First Link© ..................................................67 Crisis Line Association of BC .................................67 BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service ........67 BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information ...............................................68 Residential School