604-669-5051 [email protected]

Better at Home

Better at Home assists older adults with simple, day-to-day non-medical
tasks so that they can continue to live as independently as possible in their own homes.

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Better At Home

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you are:

  • 55 years of age or older
  • Currently living in the West End or Coal Harbour neighbourhood of Vancouver (west of Burrard Street to Stanley Park). See catchment area map below.
  • Needing assistance to complete day-to-day tasks safely and effectively

Please be advised, our light housekeeping service is currently waitlist only.

To view the West End Seniors Network Better at Home catchment area, or to find an organisation offering a Better at Home program in your neighbourhood click the link below.

catchment area map

Better At Home

Services

Check-In Phone Calls and Emails

Volunteers make regular phone calls or send emails to socially isolated clients to provide them with reassurance and friendly conversation. The frequency of service can be tailored to the needs of the client, depending on volunteer availability.

Friendly Visiting

Volunteers meet regularly with clients to provide them with an in-person social connection and to help them remain connected to their community. Visits can include meeting at the home of the client to talk, going out for walks or coffee, or other similar activities.

Home visit assessments are required to determine eligibility for this service

Light Housekeeping

The light housekeeping waitlist is currently FULL. Please note we do not have an estimate of the length of time until space in the service will become available

Grocery Shopping and Delivery

Volunteers facilitate the purchase and delivery of groceries for clients who are unable to do their own shopping. Volunteers take grocery orders by phone or email, shop for clients, and arrange for the groceries to be delivered.

This service is free, but clients must pay for their own groceries and a delivery charge may apply. Clients who order the same groceries every week can place a “standing order” which will automatically be shopped for.

All credit card information must be registered in advance with the West End Seniors’ Network. It is the responsibility of the client to inform the West End Seniors’ Network of any changes to payment method (e.g., credit card expiry date).

Clients who order the same groceries every week can place a “standing order” which will automatically be shopped for.

All services are free, but donations are appreciated. All donations collected help ensure we can offer sustainable services to as many clients as possible.

 

Minor Home Repairs

  • Volunteers assist with basic home repairs such as replacing light bulbs, fixing leaks, assembling furniture, etc.

  • This service does not assist with work that requires a tradesperson e.g., plumbing, electrical, carpentry and, painting tasks. We do not provide assistance with tasks that are deemed unsafe.

  • A Home visit from a Community Service staff member is required to assess the task and determine eligibility for this service.

  • The maximum length of this service is two hours.

    Cost

  • We do not cover the cost of supplies or materials needed to complete a task.

  • This service is free of cost. Donations are appreciated.

Prepared Meals

Prepared meals are provided in partnership with Gordon Neighbourhood House. Drop in to their Community Lunches on Mondays and Fridays at noon. Everyone is invited. Reservations are recommended and advance notice of dietary sensitivities is required. Frozen meal delivery is available to homebound seniors in the West End.

For more information and to register, call 604-683-2554, email [email protected], or visit https://gordonhouse.org/program/food-justice/

Cost: $7 for Gordon Neighbourhood House members at $8 for non-members for both in-person and pick-up/delivery.

Transportation to and from Medical Appointments
  • This service provides transportation to and from medical appointments, and non-medical errands within the City of Vancouver.
  • This service is based on volunteer availability. We ask clients to explore other available options (family, friends, neighbours, public transit including city buses and SkyTrain, HandyDART, etc.) prior to requesting transportation assistance.
  • If you require assistance with your physical mobility needs (i.e., if you use a wheelchair or need support with transferring into or out of a vehicle), we recommend that you use HandyDART.
  • A minimum of five business days’ notice is required for transportation requests. This deadline does not guarantee that a transportation request will be met, but it does increase the likelihood of arranging transportation. Transportation requests received less than five days in advance may be accepted at the discretion of WESN staff.


    Cost

  • This service is free of cost. Donations are appreciated.
  • Clients are responsible to pay for parking

The Grocery Shopping & Delivery Service is available via the two stores listed below:

Details

IGA (Burrand & Smithe)

Save-On-Foods (Online)

Shopping & Delivery Day

Wednesday

Any day of the week.

Ordering

Volunteers call clients for the list on Tuesdays before 3pm.

Clients can email their list directly to [email protected] before 3pm Tuesdays.

Volunteers call or email clients for their shopping list.

Clients can also email their list directly to [email protected]

Payment Method

Cash or Cheque

Payment must be registered with WESN in advance.

Credit Card only.

Credit Card information must be registered with WESN in advance.

Delivery Fees

Free for grocery orders over $50.

$10 for grocery orders $49.99 and under.

$0.15 per paper bag.

$4.95 or $9.95, depending on the delivery window selected.

Minimum order of $40.

$0.15 per paper bag.

Notes for clients

Please note – for those paying cash – the delivery person does not have change, so please do not pay with large bills, expecting change.

Please have your shopping list prepared ahead of time and be as detailed as possible. It is your responsibility to be home when the delivery is made.

  • If you are not home, groceries will not be delivered again until the following week.

All fees and donations collected for Better at Home services help ensure we can support as many clients as possible.

For more information, email either Hope Wolf at servicescoordinator@wesn.ca or Miel Nicholson at [email protected]. You can also call us at 604-669-5051.

WESN Brochure

Funded By:

Better at Home is funded by the Government of B.C. and managed by the United Way of Lower Mainland.