The Archway Better at Home Program is marking 10 years of empowering seniors since being awarded the Better at Home contract for Abbotsford in 2013.
Abbotsford was one of the first 18 sites selected for the program, which is now available in 260 communities across B.C. The funding comes from the B.C. Ministry of Health and is administered by United Way British Columbia.
The program helps seniors remain in their own homes by providing home-support services at a reduced cost.
The services offered by program volunteers, staff, and contractors include friendly visits, transportation, light yard work, minor home repairs, light housekeeping and grocery shopping.
Karen Kenny has been the program coordinator since inception and has been working in the Archway Senior Services department for 24 years.
“The demand for services has been steadily increasing as the population ages and as the cost of living continues to go up,” Kenny said.
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There are currently 170 seniors enrolled in the program, with more than 900 seniors supported with accessible, affordable and quality services since 2013.
The program operates on a fee-for-service setup with a sliding scale for lower income seniors. Around 75 per cent of the clients receive 70 per cent of their costs subsidized.
To serve as many seniors as possible, each household can access cleaning and yard services once a month at their subsidized rate.
The Better at Home program also has a team of volunteers that help pick up and deliver groceries and provide rides to and from appointments.
“The volunteers help fill in the gaps and are so dedicated to making sure no one is aging on their own,” Kenny said.
In addition to direct services, Kenny connects seniors with other programs within Archway and in the community.
“If we notice that a senior is socially isolated, we’ll encourage them to attend the weekly Lunch with the Bunch gathering. We can also arrange for food bank hamper deliveries, Meals on Wheels or transportation through our Community Van,” she said.
Seniors also receive resources such as heat preparation information, invites to local events and Valentine’s cards from local schools.
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“Many of our clients aren’t very connected to technology so mailing them resources and checking in over the phone helps them stay connected to their community,” Kenny said.
She builds relationships with her clients and, if the housekeepers notice any concerns, they let her know so she can check in with the senior.
Clients’ adult children often relay how relieved they are to know that their parents are getting the help they need to live a dignified life in their own homes.
“Our goal is to foster healthy and positive aging. Being able to remain in their own home is often the best-case scenario for seniors’ mental and physical health,” Kenny said.
Those interested in signing up for services or becoming a volunteer can learn more at Archway.ca/Better-Home.
