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Resources

Click on any of the categories below to access information on provincial resources and supports for B.C. seniors and their family members.

Categories

BC211

BC211 is a free and confidential service that connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community. The service provides information and referrals to a broad range of community, government, and social services that assist in areas such as: basic needs like food and shelter, mental health and addictions support, legal and financial assistance, support for seniors, and more.

Contact information

  • Phone (or text): 2-1-1
  • Email: Submit an email inquiry and receive a response within 24 hours by clicking here

  • BC Housing Seniors' Supportive Housing Program

    BC Housing's Seniors' Supportive Housing Program provides housing and support services to older adults, seniors, and people with disabilities. The program assists low-income British Columbians who are 55 years of age or older, and people of any age who have a disability or diminished ability.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-433-2218, or toll-free from anywhere in B.C. at 1-800-257-7756

  • Local Home & Community Care Office

    Those seeking publicly subsidized services such as home support, long-term care, adult day programs, or assisted living can contact their local home and community care office to find out if they are eligible.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Contact numbers differ by health authority; to find local numbers, click here

  • Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters

    The Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) program helps make rents affordable for B.C. seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rents for eligible residents who are 60+.

    Contact information:

  • Phone: 604-433-2218, or toll-free from anywhere in B.C. at 1-800-257-7756
  • British Columbia Bereavement Helpline

    The Bereavement Helpline is a free and confidential service that connects the public to grief support services within the province of B.C. You can call the BC Bereavement Helpline and speak with one of their caring volunteers for information on their bereavement support groups, agencies, and peer-based support.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-738-9950 or toll-free at 1-877-779-2223
  • Email: contact@bcbh.ca

  • Caregiver Support Line (Operated by Family Caregivers of BC)

    Family Caregivers of BC (FCBC) is a provincial, not-for-profit that supports over one million people in B.C. who provide physical and/or emotional care to a family member, friend, or neighbour. FCBC supports caregivers by providing access to information, education, and supports so that caregivers feel more confident and successful in their important role; including one-on-one emotional support, caregiver support groups, health care system navigation, and free educational resources.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Toll-free at 1-877-520-3267

  • First Link® Dementia Helpline (Operated by the Alzheimer Society of BC)

    The First Link® Dementia Helpline is for anyone affected by dementia, whether professionally or personally. Helpline staff and volunteers give people the support they need, when they need it.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Toll free at 1-800-936-6033

  • Parkinson Society BC

    Parkinson Society BC (PSBC) staff are committed to offering support, sharing reliable information, and providing education for people living with Parkinson's, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. You can call the PSBC information line to connect with one of their support services team members.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Toll-free at 1-800-668-3330
  • BC Cancer Agency

    The BC Cancer Agency offers various services and support programs to cancer patients and their family members.

    Learn more by clicking here.


    First Link® Dementia Helpline (Operated by the Alzheimer Society of BC)

    The First Link® Dementia Helpline is for anyone affected by dementia, whether professionally or personally. Helpline staff and volunteers give people the support they need, when they need it.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Toll free at 1-800-936-6033

  • Parkinson Society BC

    Parkinson Society BC (PSBC) staff are committed to offering support, sharing reliable information, and providing education for people living with Parkinson's, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. You can call the PSBC information line to connect with one of their support services team members.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Toll-free at 1-800-668-3330
  • Advance Care Planning Canada

    Advance Care Planning (ACP) Canada's website highlights the latest news, updates, activities, and events regarding advance care planning across the country. While providing these updates, ACP Canada also offers various tools and resources developed for individuals and families to assist them in making appropriate decisions regarding end of life care.

    Learn more by clicking here.


    BC211

    BC211 is a free and confidential service that connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community. The service provides information and referrals to a broad range of community, government, and social services that assist in areas such as: basic needs like food and shelter, mental health and addictions support, legal and financial assistance, support for seniors, and more.

    Contact information

  • Phone (or text): 2-1-1
  • Email: Submit your inquiry by email to receive a response within 24 hours by clicking here

  • HealthLink BC (Advance Care Planning)

    Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and writing down your wishes or instructions for present or future health care treatment in the event you become incapable of deciding for yourself. HealthLink BC provides information and resources about advance care planning in B.C., including tools to get started with making a plan.

    Learn more by clicking here.


    Nidus

    Nidus provides personal planning education, support, and assistance to British Columbians. Nidus also operates a centralized Registry for personal planning documents in partnership with Juricert Inc. of the Law Society of British Columbia.

    Contact information

  • Email (Nidus Resource Centre): info@nidus.ca
  • Email (Personal Planning Registry): registry@nidus.ca

  • People's Law School

    People's Law School is a non-profit society in B.C. dedicated to making the law accessible to everyone. People's Law School provides free legal education and information to help British Columbian's effectively deal with everyday legal problems.

    Learn more by clicking here.


    Seniors Abuse and Information Line (Operated by Seniors First BC)

    The province-wide and confidential Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) is a safe place for older adults and those who care about them to talk to a trained intake worker about abuse or mistreatment, receive information, and obtain support about issues that impact the health and well-being of an older adult. SAIL intake workers are trained to provide a listening, non-judgmental, and supportive ear, and provide resources and referrals to their free internal programs and support.

    Seniors First BC also offers pro bono legal services to eligible older adults residing in B.C. on a wide range of legal matters, through their Elder Law Clinic. Individuals can be connected to this service by calling the SAIL line.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-437-1940, or toll-free at 1-866-437-1940
  • 1800SUICIDE

    The 1800SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) network has supported tens of thousands of callers throughout B.C., ensuring that people have access to skilled suicide assessment and intervention when they need it most. ​The focus is on answering and supporting suicide-related calls. Crisis line workers use evidence-based techniques and a province-wide Emergency Resource Database to support callers. When needed, crisis line workers are able to provide intervention through emergency mental health teams and other emergency services.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 1-800-784-2433 (1800SUICIDE)

  • 310Mental Health Support

    310Mental Health Support (310-6789) is the toll-free access to emotional support, information, and resources specific to mental health in B.C.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 310-6789 (no need to dial area code)

  • BC211

    BC211 is a free and confidential service that connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community. The service provides information and referrals to a broad range of community, government, and social services that assist in areas such as: basic needs like food and shelter, mental health and addictions support, legal and financial assistance, support for seniors, and more.

  • Phone (or text): 2-1-1
  • Email: Submit your inquiry by email to receive a response within 24 hours by clicking here

  • British Columbia Bereavement Helpline

    The Bereavement Helpline is a free and confidential service that connects the public to grief support services within the province of B.C. You can call the BC Bereavement Helpline and speak with one of their caring volunteers for information on their bereavement support groups, agencies, and peer-based support.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-738-9950, or toll-free at 1-877-779-2223
  • Email: contact@bcbh.ca

  • Office of the BC Ombudsperson

    The Office of the BC Ombudsperson assists with and investigates complaints from members of the public about the administration of government programs and services. Whether it’s a delay in receiving service or a disagreement with a decision made, they impartially listen and work to find fair solutions to problems that come to them. Their services are free and confidential.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 1-800-567-3247
  • Email: info@bcombudsperson.ca (general inquiries only*)
  • *If you wish to file a complaint, please click here.


    Office of the Seniors Advocate

    The Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA) monitors and analyzes seniors services and issues in B.C., and makes recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues. The OSA also provides information and referrals for individuals who are navigating seniors services and tracks their concerns, which helps inform future work. The services which the OSA monitors are in five key areas: health care, housing, income supports, community supports, and transportation.

  • Phone: 250-952-3181, or toll-free at 1-877-952-3181
  • Email: info@seniorsadvocatebc.ca

  • Patient Care Quality Office

    The Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO) is available to assist individuals looking to file formal complaints about the quality of publicly subsidized health care services in B.C., after all other avenues for resolution have been exhausted.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Contact numbers vary depending on health authority; to find local numbers, click here

  • Public Guardian and Trustee

    The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) helps protect the legal, financial, personal, and health care interests of adults who require assistance in decision making. When the PGT receives reports or allegations of financial abuse, neglect or self neglect, their staff will gather information and determine if further investigation is required.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-660-4444
  • Email: Submit an email enquiry to the PGT by clicking here (general enquiries only*)
  • *If you have concerns about the financial and legal affairs of a vulnerable adult and would like to make a report, you can submit a referral form via the PGT website by clicking here.


    Seniors Abuse and Information Line (Operated by Seniors First BC)

    The province-wide and confidential Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) is a safe place for older adults and those who care about them to talk to a trained intake worker about abuse or mistreatment, receive information, and obtain support about issues that impact the health and well-being of an older adult. SAIL intake workers are trained to provide a listening, non-judgmental, and supportive ear, and provide resources and referrals to their free internal programs and support.

    Seniors First BC also offers pro bono legal services to eligible older adults residing in B.C. on a wide range of legal matters, through their Elder Law Clinic. Individuals can be connected to this service by calling the SAIL line.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-437-1940, or toll-free at 1-866-437-1940

  • Seniors Distress Line (Operated by The Crisis Centre of BC)

    The Crisis Centre of BC is dedicated to providing help and hope to individuals, organizations, and communities. Their Distress Services programs provide support to vulnerable individuals across B.C. Services are delivered by highly trained volunteers and paid responders who provide non-judgmental emotional support through risk assessment, collaborative safety planning, and short-term follow-up by phone. They also engage in emergency rescue services as needed.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-872-1234
  • Chat: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca
  • 310Mental Health Support

    310Mental Health Support (310-6789) is the toll-free access to emotional support, information, and resources specific to mental health in B.C.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 310-6789 (no need to dial area code)

  • HealthLink BC

    HealthLink BC provides reliable non-emergency health information and advice to British Columbians. The service is available by telephone, the HealthLink BC website, a mobile app, and a collection of print resources. Through HealthLink BC's programs and services, you can get the information you need to make health decisions for yourself and those you care for.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 8-1-1 toll-free in B.C. or for the deaf and hard of hearing, contact by using Video Relay Services* (VRS) or Teletypewriter (TTY) relay services**
  • *Video Relay Services (VRS) provides sign language interpretation. It is free for registered deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired Canadians who use sign language. VRS is available when making telephone calls using Internet and cell-phone technology. Click here to sign up for VRS and give them the number 604-215-5101 to call HealthLink BC.

    **To access TTY, dial 7-1-1. A TTY relay service call allows a person with a hearing or speech disability to reach a relay operator who facilitates a call with 8-1-1.


    Your Dental Health™

    Your Dental Health™ is a public education program of the BC Dental Association (BCDA) providing general dental health information to British Columbians*.

    You can also find a list of reduced cost clinics located across the province on Your Dental Health™, available to eligible low-income B.C. residents. Learn more by clicking here.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-736-7202, or toll-free at 1-888-396-9888
  • Email: info@yourdentalhealth.ca
  • *Information presented on this website does not in any way replace the advice of your dentist, dental specialist, or other health professionals.
    Ability411 (Operated by CanAssist)

    Ability411 is a web-based service that provides practical information about assistive technologies and equipment to BC seniors, their family members and their health providers. Ability411 enables seniors and the people who care for them to ask for help in identifying effective commercial technologies in cases where they are unable to find an appropriate solution on their own. The website also allows users to browse questions posed by other visitors, along with the answers they received.

    Contact information*

  • Email: Submit an email enquiry to Ability411 by clicking here
  • *Please note that Ability411 is an online service for residents of B.C. – they are unable to accept phone calls. If you do not have access to email, please call 8-1-1 (or for those with difficulty hearing, call 7-1-1) toll-free in B.C. to reach HealthLink BC. A health services navigator will answer your call and may act as an intermediary between you and Ability411.


    BC211

    BC211 is a free and confidential service that connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community. The service provides information and referrals to a broad range of community, government, and social services that assist in areas such as: basic needs like food and shelter, mental health and addictions support, legal and financial assistance, support for seniors, and more.

  • Phone (or text): 2-1-1
  • Email: Submit an email inquiry and receive a response within 24 hours by clicking here

  • BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA)

    The BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) is a provincial program that provides financial help in the form of rebates to eligible low-income households to complete home adaptations for independent living. Eligible low- and moderate-income households can receive up to $17,500 in rebates to complete home adaptations. The program allows seniors and people with permanent disabilities or diminished ability to gain greater independence within their homes.

    Contact information:

  • Phone: 604-439-8550, or toll-free from anywhere in B.C. at 1-800-257-7756

  • BC Seniors' Guide

    The BC Seniors' Guide is a book-style compilation of information and resources to help us all plan for and live a healthy lifestyle as we age. It includes information on provincial and federal programs, with sections on benefits, health, lifestyle, housing, transportation, finances, safety and security, and other services.

    You can download the PDF version of the guide (great for printing at home), read it online, or order a hard copy by clicking here.


    Better at Home (Operated by United Way)

    Better at Home is a program that helps seniors with simple non-medical, day-to-day tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities.

    Better at Home services vary among communities. They are designed to complement existing services and are based on the unique needs of local seniors, such as light yard work, snow shoveling, grocery shopping, transportation, or just a friendly visit.

    Older adults who receive Better at Home services may pay a fee based on their income. Some services may be free. These fees-for-service are fed back into the local program to serve more seniors.

    Contact information

  • Phone: Contact numbers differ by community, find local numbers by clicking here

  • Memorial Society of BC

    The Memorial Society of BC provides independent information about reasonably priced or discounted funeral services, and end of life choices available to B.C. residents.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-733-7705, or toll-free at 1-888-816-5902
  • Email: admin@memorialsocietybc.org

  • Seniors Abuse and Information Line (Operated by Seniors First BC)

    The province-wide and confidential Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) is a safe place for older adults and those who care about them to talk to a trained intake worker about abuse or mistreatment, receive information and support about issues that impact the health and well-being of an older adult. SAIL intake workers are trained to provide a listening, non-judgmental and supportive ear, and provide resources and referrals to their free internal programs and support.

    Seniors First BC also offers pro bono legal services to eligible older adults residing in B.C. on a wide range of legal matters, through their Elder Law Clinic. Individuals can be connected to this service by calling the SAIL line.

    Contact information

  • Phone: 604-437-1940, or toll-free at 1-866-437-1940