In anticipation of Vancouver’s All-Staff Forum about Home is Best, we received questions from staff about their personal experiences on — and off — the job. Today, we answer two more of these questions.

If you couldn’t join us for Vancouver’s All-Staff Forum and our Home is Best Fair that followed, the webcast is available for viewing and full coverage of the event can be read here.

If you’re time is limited, you can skip the introductions and view our new video directly. Featuring Leo Maher, a Quick Response Team client, and members of our Quick Response Team, this video is less than five minutes long and can be watched here: Home is Best: Leo’s Story.

Today’s answered questions

Please note that questions are occasionally edited for brevity.

Q. I have learned many things by having a mom who lives with a form of dementia. In the past 7 years we have gone through many phases of getting help: first realizing there is “something wrong” and trying to manage within the family … to now, very luckily & happily for us, [my mom is] transferring into the dementia cottages at Hawthorne Seniors Care Complex in Port Coquitlam. So, my mom is well taken care of now. But I wonder about all the other seniors who are out there!

My question is: Do the health authorities have the ability, if desired, to apply pressure, or advise, the Ministry of Health to build or renovate to create “enhanced assisted living facilities” which are needed for those who cannot stay at home any longer for health and safety reasons, but who do not quite meet the requirements for current state assisted living but also do not need residential care? I think this group of seniors, which must be growing, is not very well served yet, and I hope we can do more for them to create safe environments for them to live and socialize, and maintain the dignity of having their own modest room and powder room. I don’t know if it’s just left up to private citizens to apply this type of pressure to government or if the health authorities are also involved.

A. Thank you for sharing your personal story with us. It must have been a very difficult and confusing time for you, your mom and family to experience.

While we understand Fraser Health has some wonderful Assisted Living models, we can’t comment fully on what they offer. However, what we can say is that we are working together with the Ministry of Health to offer the best possible care to our clients here in Vancouver.

Currently, all Assisted Living (AL) models are guided by the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Assisted Living Registrar. While we recognize the need to ensure someone can function independently and safely in their environment, dementia unfortunately impacts people’s ability to do so, depending on the stage of their condition. And this, as you know, impacts a person’s suitability for Assisted Living Housing as currently provided in B.C.

Having said that, you’ll be interested to know that the B.C.’s Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie has just recently released a report: “Seniors Housing in B.C., Affordable, Appropriate, Available.” This report sets out 18 recommendations, including a fundamental redesign of assisted living.

You may also like to know that we’re also conducting a full review of Assisted Living in Vancouver to identify changes necessary for our clients and their families moving into the future.

Thank you again for sharing your story with us. We are very happy to hear your mom has found a wonderful place to be at the Hawthorne campus of care.

Q. If there is belief and support in the vision and philosophy of Home is Best, why are we cutting and limiting the amounts of home support to clients at the same time? Why are Respite Centre spots, ADP programs, and other community-based programs not increased (as these would help too).

I worked for over 10 years as a case manager, and continue to strongly believe in community care and the great work done by the CHC staff.

A. Ensuring that seniors receive the best care and can live at home as long as it’s safe to do so is one of the goals of our Home and Community Care programs.

Home Support provides supplementary services to optimize independent function. It is designed to complement — not replace — the care and support provided by families and friends, other individuals and other community resources. It is just one of many resources available.

Home Support is also not intended to include hospitality services such as housekeeping, laundry and advanced meal preparation. There are community organizations that offer some of these services, such as the United Way’s Better at Home program. In fact, the Ministry of Health announced additional funding for this program just last week. (You can read more about this announcement here.)

Each Home Support client is reviewed individually, with VCH staff taking great care to evaluate client needs. Although it may seem as though Home Support is being ‘cut’ from some clients, the reality is that we are simply bringing their usage in line with provincial guidelines in use in other health authorities in B.C. to ensure we are being consistent with how these valuable services are spread across the city and our entire health authority. By applying home support guidelines in an equitable, consistent and sustainable manner, we are ensuring that home support will continue to be available to the growing number of seniors with health needs.

Your questions about providing other supports, like more adult day program services and respite care, are also important as we look to support individuals to live longer in the community. We recognize this need and you’ll be pleased to know that a review has just been completed on the current state of the Vancouver Adult Day Program (ADP) and Respite Continuum. This review defined:

• the client groups served by the ADP and Respite services continuum;
• opportunities to improve access and align client care needs with our model of care
• opportunities to define the continuum of services required moving forward.

The summary report shared with VCH staff  last week outlines the next steps in this process. If you didn’t receive a copy and would like one, we would be happy to forward the document to you.

Got a question?

If you have a question, comment or suggestion, email us what’s on your mind at onevancouver@vch.ca.

Related articles

• Getting personal at Vancouver’s All-Staff Forum
• “I’ve found dementia is a game changer”
• Home is Best Fair (and Angus!)