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Independent Living BC Assisted Living Gets Rave Reviews from Seniors At a recent opening for The Gateway, a provincially subsidized assisted living development in Surrey, new resident Pat Booth said, “From the looks on our smiling faces you can tell we're quite happy." She had just moved in to the 60-unit apartment building and already made several friends. "All the visitors are amazed at our new digs," she added. Seniors across BC are enjoying the benefits of assisted living. As people age, their housing needs change and more seniors are requesting home-like apartments, where they can maintain friendships and partake in social and recreational activities, but also close their apartment doors when their grandchildren come over to watch movies. Many also want health care services not in an institutional setting, but in a warm homey environment. Until recently, most seniors had just two options when they could no longer live without support – home care or residential care. Assisted living is designed for people who need some personal assistance but do not want or need to be in 24-hour facility care. As a middle option between home care and residential care, assisted living offers a more tailored approach in addressing individual housing and personal care needs. Assisted living offers seniors more autonomy, choice and dignity, helps them live independently longer, and improves their health. It can also delay or prevent placement in a residential care facility, and reduce hospitalization. Alice Anderson in an assisted living apartment in Rocky Mountain Village in Trail had been afraid living at home alone when it became apparent that she needed more care. Nonetheless, she still had reservations that assisted living might not be right for her if it was similar to residential care. “Before I moved into assisted living, I thought I was going to die,” she said at their opening ceremony in front of family and friends. “Then I moved into assisted living, died and went to heaven right here!.” New housing is bright and spacious, offering tenants an affordable, independent lifestyle complete with private apartments, nutritious meals in a common dining room, access to laundry and housekeeping services and an array of recreational opportunities with friends and family members. Tenants also have access to personal care services when needed, such as help with their mobility and medications management and a 24-hour response system. In response to the changing needs of seniors, the provincial government, through BC Housing, launched the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program in 2002 in partnership with the federal government, regional health authorities, and the private and non-profit sectors. The program is a housing and health partnership and that will result in the creation of 3,500 affordable assisted living apartments across the province by 2007. Lower income seniors are able to rent the ILBC units for 70 per cent of their after-tax income. This fee covers their accommodation, personal care and hospitality services, such as meals, housekeeping, laundry, recreational opportunities and 24-hour response system. ILBC is funded in part through the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Program Agreement. Government of Canada, through CMHC, will contribute $130 million by 2008 towards affordable housing in this province. The provincial government, through BC Housing, will provide a minimum of $34 million annually to subsidize the cost of units built under this agreement, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing options for British Columbians in greatest need. To find out if you qualify for the ILBC program, contact your regional health authority and ask to speak to a case manager. In the Fraser Health region (www.fraserhealth.ca), call 1-877-935-5669. In the Vancouver Coastal Health region (www.vch.ca), call 604-736-2033. And for more information about ILBC, visit www.bchousing.org/ILBC/. |
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DOWNSIZING CLOSET-STORAGE ORGANIZERS THE COIN SHOP STAGED N SOLD ELIZABETH M. PAGTAKHAN SHELLY SMEE C/O CENTURY 21
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