Can I get help with personal care / activities of daily living?

Vancouver Coastal Health for personal-care / activities-of-daily-living (ADL) needs, not simply housekeeping.

1. Vancouver Coastal Health – Home Support / Home & Community Care Call 604-263-7377 Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and request a Home and Community Care assessment for Home Support. This program is not restricted to people 65+; B.C.'s general eligibility begins at age 19 when a person cannot function independently because of chronic health-related problems.

   Home Support is specifically intended to provide personal assistance with things such as bathing, grooming, dressing/personal care, mobility/transfers, toileting and nutrition.
   

2. FAHST — Flexible Adaptable Home Support Team Call: 604-875-4111 ext. 22685 Referral email: FAHSTReferrals@vch.ca 

   FAHST works with vulnerable clients who need more flexible and consistent home support. The program specifically lists assistance with dressing, mouth care, hair washing, bathing/showering, bowel/bladder care, eating/feeding, meal preparation, medication support, laundry, food preparation, cleaning, shopping and connecting with community resources.
   

3. Care BC – Meals on Wheels can cover part of the food/social-contact problem. Vancouver Western Meals on Wheels delivers meals Monday–Friday. Volunteers also provide a brief friendly visit and informal wellness/safety check. It is important to distinguish this from true meal companionship: the volunteer isn't normally staying and eating the meal with her.

Western Meals on Wheels: 604-732-7638 Current hot-meal price: $10.95. Frozen meals are $8.75.

4. Better at Home could fill some gaps, particularly friendly visiting, grocery shopping and light housekeeping. Prioritizes older adults who are low-income, socially isolated, frail, Indigenous, or living with disability. Fees are income-based and some services may be free. However, this is a non-medical service and does not replace personal-care workers for bathing or dressing. Call: 604-268-1312 Email: info@betterathome.ca 
   

5. Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL). If her physical disability is substantial and she qualifies for VCH Home Support, CSIL can provide funding that allows an eligible client to arrange and manage her own home-support workers instead of relying entirely on standard scheduled home support.
   

If currently staying in an SRO, shelter, supportive housing, hotel or other non-traditional accommodation, tell VCH exactly where staying when you call to request the assessment rather than assuming that setting makes her ineligible.