BE SAFE/BE HEALTHY – IMPORTANT INFO FOR B.C. SENIORS

1. Personal/Public Safety information provided to us from RCMP Media Relations Officer Arash Ross Sayed:

https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/seniors-guidebook-safety-and-security

https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

When you go out, do you feel safe? When you answer your cellphone, are you anxious about who calls you? We all should read the above links so that we are confident about who to call, what to do, what to say.

2. Health information

8-1-1 (healthlinkbc.ca)

Call HealthLink BC if you’re feeling unwell or have a minor injury and are unsure about what to do. Or if you just have a health question or need advice about a health issue.

Here’s what you get with this free service any time of the day or night:

  • Health advice from a nurse
  • Nutrition information from a dietitian
  • Advice about drugs and pills from a pharmacist
  • Where to find health services in your community
  • Translation services

2. Personal health

YOUR DOCTOR’s # xxx-xxx

Your doctor is your health expert. Call him or her if you have an urgent concern you think needs to be seen to soon. If you don’t have a GP, a walk-in clinic may be a good option so have a number handy for the closest one.

3. Home health

Fraser Health Service Line at 1-855-412-2121

  • Call this number to find out whether you qualify for home support for personal care, home care nursing, palliative care, day programs for adults or respite services for caregivers.
  • Trained phone staff will identify your needs and refer you to the services you need
  • Open 7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and on statutory holidays between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Confidential, translation services
  • Seniors will pay a fee for some services, based on their income. Services of health care professionals are free.

4. Mental health

Fraser Health Crisis Line 604-951-8855 / 1-877-820-7444

Call if there’s anything that’s causing you concern, worry or distress, for example suicide thoughts or feelings, mental health problems, addictions, family violence, abuse, relationship conflicts, loss, or just plain loneliness.

Free confidential emotional support, crisis intervention and community resource information 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

5. Home help

604-268-1312 (betterathome.ca)

Call Better at Home to get help with home tasks like housekeeping and transportation to appointments.

Here’s what you might get with this service:

  • Friendly visiting
  • Transportation to appointments
  • Light yard work
  • Minor home repairs
  • Snow shoveling
  • Light housekeeping
  • Grocery shopping (Services vary by community)
  • Seniors pay a fee for some services, based on their income. Some services may be free.

6. Community services

2-1-1 (bc211.ca)

Call this number if you need a service and aren’t sure what it’s called or where to find it.

Here’s what you get with this free service:

  • One call connects you to an information and referral specialist with numbers for all community, social and government services including Fraser Health’s Public Health offices
  • Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
  • Confidential, multilingual
  • Services for Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Squamish-Lillooet Regional Districts, Sunshine Coast

7. Emergency services

Call 911 for any serious emergency any time of the day or night. An ambulance will arrive with attendants to assess whether you need to be transported to the local Emergency department.

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