BC Seniors’ Guide

BC Seniors¡¯ Guide

12th Edition

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

In B.C., we want to help our growing number of seniors live independently

in their own homes for as long as possible, to promote a healthy active

lifestyle, and provide the best possible care and support when and where

people need it. Making sure information and resources about services are

readily available for seniors, their families, and caregivers is important to

help them make informed decisions about their health.

The BC Seniors¡¯ Guide is a comprehensive tool that can help British

Columbians with the information they need as they age. It includes

information on provincial and federal programs, with sections on benefits,

health, lifestyle, housing, transportation, finances, safety and security and

other important services. It is available in English, French, Punjabi, Chinese,

Korean, Vietnamese and Farsi. The guide is accessible in book format or

online. The BC Elders¡¯ Guide is a similar resource designed for Indigenous,

First Nations and M¨¦tis older adults. It was created through a partnership

between the B.C. Government and the First Nations Health Authority.

You can find both the BC Seniors¡¯ Guide and the BC Elders¡¯ Guide online at

.bc.ca/seniorsguide.

We are fortunate in British Columbia to have many incredible services

available to help us as we age. The BC Seniors¡¯ Guide can help people

discover these resources. It¡¯s important to have this tool as accessible as

possible that is why we have had it translated into more languages than ever

before. I encourage you to have a copy on hand, electronically or paper, and

share it with as many people you can think would benefit from it.

Sincerely,

Adrian Dix

Minister of Health

The 12th edition of the British Columbia Seniors¡¯ Guide was

printed in 2020.

Information may change from the time of publication. Visit

.bc.ca/seniorsguide for periodic updates to this

guide, as well as translated version available in Chinese, French,

Punjabi, Vietnamese, Korean and Farsi.

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BC SENIORS GUIDE

Message from the Minister of Health.......................................................... ii

Key Resources.................................................................................................. 1

Lifestyle................................................................................................................... 7

SeniorsBC.ca................................................................................................................ 9

Aging Well................................................................................................................... 9

HealthLink BC.............................................................................................................. 9

Choose to Move.......................................................................................................... 9

Physical Activity Services at HealthLink BC.............................................................. 10

BC Seniors¡¯ Community Parks................................................................................... 10

Move for Life! DVD...................................................................................................... 10

Healthy Eating for Seniors.......................................................................................... 11

Contact a Registered Dietitian.................................................................................. 12

First Nations Health Authority ¨C Eating Healthy andBeing Active....................... 12

An Active and Healthy Brain...................................................................................... 12

Alzheimer Society of B.C............................................................................................ 13

Parkinson Society BC.................................................................................................. 13

Health Promotion Workshops................................................................................... 13

It¡¯s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking............................................................ 14

QuitNow....................................................................................................................... 14

BC Smoking Cessation Program............................................................................... 14

Alcohol and Aging...................................................................................................... 14

Cannabis...................................................................................................................... 15

Fall Prevention............................................................................................................. 15

B.C. Brain Injury Association...................................................................................... 16

Government of B.C. Accessibility Website............................................................... 16

Aging with a Developmental Disability................................................................... 17

Digital Literacy.......................................................................................................... 17

Connecting with technology (Canadian Institute for the Blind).......................... 17

Teach a Parent (ABC Life Literacy Canada)............................................................... 17

Gluu Digital Coaching Network................................................................................ 18

Healthy Communities and Families.............................................................. 18

Age-friendly BC........................................................................................................... 18

Better at Home............................................................................................................ 18

BC Healthy Communities Society............................................................................. 19

BC211............................................................................................................................ 19

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COVID-19...................................................................................................................... 19

Healthy Communities................................................................................................. 19

Service BC.................................................................................................................... 20

Elders Transportation Program................................................................................. 21

WelcomeBC.ca............................................................................................................ 21

Immigrant Services..................................................................................................... 22

Foreign Country Contacts.......................................................................................... 22

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren......................................................... 23

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Line............................................... 23

Affordable Child Care Benefit.................................................................................... 23

Volunteering............................................................................................................... 24

Volunteer BC................................................................................................................ 24

Volunteer Canada....................................................................................................... 24

Employment............................................................................................................... 24

WorkBC.ca ¨C Mature Workers.................................................................................... 24

Older Workers Program.............................................................................................. 24

Education...................................................................................................................... 25

Post-Secondary Tuition.............................................................................................. 25

English Language Training........................................................................................ 25

Recreation and Culture........................................................................................ 26

55+ BC Games............................................................................................................. 26

Hunting and Angling (Fishing) Licenses for Seniors............................................... 26

BC Parks - Campsite Fee Discount............................................................................ 27

Royal BC Museum....................................................................................................... 27

Ability411...................................................................................................................... 27

Your Health........................................................................................................ 29

British Columbia¡¯s Health Care System...................................................... 31

Health Authorities in British Columbia....................................................... 31

Fraser Health........................................................................................................... 31

Interior Health......................................................................................................... 31

Island Health........................................................................................................... 31

Northern Health..................................................................................................... 32

Vancouver Coastal Health...................................................................................... 32

Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).......................................................... 32

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).................................................................. 32

FNHA Indian Residential Schools information line............................................... 32

Healthlink BC.............................................................................................................. 33

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HealthLink BC 8-1-1..................................................................................................... 33

Is it an emergency?................................................................................................. 33

HealthLinkBC.ca.......................................................................................................... 33

BC Health Service Locator App................................................................................. 33

Medical Services Plan (Msp) ofBritish Columbia................................... 34

Medical Benefits.......................................................................................................... 34

Supplementary Benefits............................................................................................ 34

Who is Health Insurance BC?..................................................................................... 35

BC Services Card......................................................................................................... 35

Medical Services Only................................................................................................ 36

Dental Care.................................................................................................................. 36

Travel to Medical Appointments.................................................................... 36

Travel Assistance Program (TAP)............................................................................... 36

Health Connections.................................................................................................... 37

Northern Health..................................................................................................... 37

Interior Health......................................................................................................... 38

Island Health........................................................................................................... 38

Vancouver Coastal Health...................................................................................... 38

PharmaCare................................................................................................................. 38

Fair PharmaCare Plan.................................................................................................. 38

Registering for Fair PharmaCare................................................................................ 39

Increased Assistance............................................................................................... 39

PharmaCare¡¯s Other Plans..................................................................................... 40

What¡¯s covered?...................................................................................................... 40

Monthly Deductible Payment Option................................................................... 40

Medical Services Plan (MSP) and PharmaCare: What¡¯s the Difference?............... 41

For More Information about PharmaCare Plans.................................................. 41

BC Emergency Health Services....................................................................... 42

Acute, Home and Community Care Services.......................................... 43

Acute Care (Hospital Care)......................................................................................... 43

Home and Community Care..................................................................................... 44

Who is Eligible?....................................................................................................... 44

Obtaining Services.................................................................................................. 45

Care Management and Care Co-ordination......................................................... 45

Home Support........................................................................................................ 45

Choice in Supports for Independent Living........................................................... 46

Community Nursing and Community Rehabilitation.......................................... 46

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