Creating a backup plan for the unexpected

As the past two years have shown us, it’s always good to be prepared. It’s common to regularly update and maintain things such as insurance, vehicles and health check-ups. Don’t forget that your backup plan for home health and home support services is another item that should be reviewed and updated regularly.

Even in the best circumstances, your care can be interrupted by causes outside our control, like extreme weather, transit interruptions or care provider illness. VCH has policies and procedures to minimize service impacts and ensure that those who need care the most continue to receive it. Every effort is made to avoid disrupting care and communicate with any client and/or family who may be impacted. In those rare incidences where an unexpected event may impact VCH service delivery, it’s important that you have a back-up plan. Your backup plan will help to keep you safe and comfortable at home in the event of a temporary interruption in the home health and/or home support services you would usually receive. Typically, this involves having a neighbour, friend(s), or family member(s) agree to be part of your backup plan and provide support and assistance if your care is unexpectedly impacted.

Should a major weather event or other incident impact VCH staffing or service levels, your home support services could temporarily change in one or more of the following ways:

• Change in the time the service is provided
• Reduction in the number of visits, visit length and/or the tasks provided
• Reduction in the number and length of in-home respite blocks

Home health nursing, case management, or allied health (Dietician, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, etc.) services could temporarily change in the following ways:

• Reduction in visit frequency.
• Greater emphasis on teaching to support self-care or assisted care using family or caregivers.

As partners in care with you, clinicians on your Home Health (HH) team will work with you to help identify options and set up your Back-Up Plan. It’s important to let your HH clinician know if your Back-Up Plan and/or your primary contacts change or if you cannot identify anyone to be part of your Back-Up Plan.

Planning together for health and safety is more important than ever, and we look forward to working with you to ensure you have the support you need. Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family.

Please call your Home Health team (see below) if you have any questions.

Vancouver

• Three Bridges: 604-331-8902
• Robert & Lily Lee Family: 604-675-3980
• Pender: 604-669-9181
• Evergreen: 604-872-2511
• Pacific Spirit: 604-261-6366
• Raven Song: 604-709-6400
• South: 604-321-6151

Richmond

604-675-3644

Coastal Rural

• Sunshine Coast: 604-741-0726
• Gibsons: 604-984-5070
• Sechelt: 604-885-5164
• Bella Coola: 250-799-5311
• Bella Bella: 250-957-2308
• Powell River: 604-485-3310
• Squamish: 604-892-2293
• Whistler: 604-932-4911
• Pemberton: 604-894-6939

Coastal Urban

• North Shore (North Vancouver, West Vancouver): 604- 986-7111