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'Better At Home' launches for Alberni seniors

Better at Home helps seniors live independently at home by providing access to support services that are coordinated and delivered locally.

A new service for seniors is launching the Alberni Valley this week.

Better at Home is a program to help seniors continue to live independently in their own homes by providing access to non-medical support services coordinated and delivered locally.

The Port Alberni Better at Home program will concentrate primarily on friendly visits, transportation to appointments and a seniors’ information and referral service, program coordinator Barb Stevenson said.

“We’re going to start with the two most in-demand services.”

The program is being assembled with a government grant and will work in partnership with INEO Employment Services for volunteer coordination.

Better at Home differs from home support services in several ways, the most important being there are no medical or personal hygiene services.

“The friendly visitor is a friend, not hired help,” Stevenson explained. “So they will be doing things friends would do.”

Seniors and volunteers will be interviewed and paired up according to need. Volunteers will have to submit to a criminal record check.

“We’re hoping to support the independence of seniors,” Stevenson said.

She encourages anyone curious about the program to call, even if they think they don’t qualify. For more info, call Barb Stevenson or Lynn Turner at 778-419-3000 or e-mail pabetterathome@shaw.ca.

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