JBCP: Aging at home

James Bay Community Project

By Paula Greene

When I think about age and aging I think about wealth; a wealth of knowledge, history, talents and skills. However for many of our community’s elders the reality of aging comes with additional concerns; deteriorating health, increased isolation and coming to terms with a loss of independence. This journey can be frightening and lonely and prompt discussions like, ‘Can I stay at home?’ ‘How will I manage without help?’ or ‘I can’t afford to pay for the help I need’.

For many people, staying at home as they get older is so important. Our homes hold precious memories and can be the physical manifestation of all that has been achieved throughout a lifetime: the thought of leaving can be heartbreaking. There is an alternative though, programs delivered by James Bay Community Project (JBCP) seeks to help seniors living independently and on low incomes stay at home.

There are approximately 14,000 people over the age of 55 living in Victoria accounting for 18% of the population (United Way 2013); 2,800 of those seniors live here in James Bay, and at the JBCP serving seniors is a core program area.

For seniors and adults with developmental disabilities who call James Bay home there are a number of services provided by JBCP, and delivered by dedicated volunteers so that people can stay at home. If you need a lift to a medical appointment they have a volunteer for that, does your dog need a walk? they have a volunteer for that, and if you need help de-cluttering your home or some light gardening guess what? That’s right- they have a volunteer for that too.

In addition to these programs JBCP delivers the Victoria Better at Home Program which is a province wide program funded by the Ministry of Health and coordinated by the United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM). The UWLM met with seniors in CRD communities, including James Bay, to ask seniors what supports and services they most needed in order to live in their homes independently and stay connected to their communities. How about: Victoria Better at Home helps seniors with light housekeeping, non-medical transportation, minor home repair and Seniors Connections group. Fees for Better at Home are determined on a sliding scale based on the senior’s household income, and some seniors may qualify for 100% subsidy.

I’ll leave the final words to C&G (pictured) who simply explain the difference programs like Better at Home makes to their lives.

“We got to the time when we knew that we needed help, but we also know we need to stay in our home. Better at Home helps us so we can stay here because this is our home. We know
if we didn’t have Better at Home services we would have to move and that would just be so stressful to think about right now with all of the other health issues we are dealing with. We are very grateful people!”

If you are interested in any of the programs mentioned here contact:

Noriko Oka, outreach worker at 250-388-7844 Ext. 318 or by email at noka@jbcp.bc.ca.