Accessing Services

You can access Home and Community Care services for yourself or a family member by following the three steps below. Check the Eligibility page to make sure you meet all the requirements. Step 1 - Contact us If you or a family member is at home, call the access line in your area, listed below.

If you or a family member is in the hospital, speak with the hospital social worker or transitional service team member.

Access Lines for Home and Community Care services

Name	Phone
Telephone - Bella Bella	250.957.2308 ext.341
Telephone - Bella Coola	250.799.5339
Telephone - Gibsons	604.741.0726
Telephone - North Vancouver	604.983.6700
Telephone - Pemberton	604.815.6859
Telephone - Powell River	604.485.3310
Telephone - Richmond	604.278.3361
Telephone - Sechelt	604.741.0726
Telephone - Squamish	604.815.6859
Telephone - Vancouver	604.263.7377
Telephone - West Vancouver	604.983.6700
Telephone - Whistler	604.815.6859

Access Lines for Hospice Palliative Care For Hospice Palliative Care services in the following communities, you can call the general Home and Community Care Access line, or you can call:

North Shore 604.988.3131 (ext 3743)

Richmond 604.278.3361

Vancouver 604.263.7255

For Hospice Palliative Care services in all other Vancouver Coastal Health communities, please call the general Home and Community Care Access Line above.

Step 2 - Conduct an assessment Our health care professionals will work with you, your family, doctor and other health care professionals to assess: 

• Your eligibility for home and community care services

• What services best meet your needs and situation
• How long you need these services for
• The costs, if any, for these services

How am I involved in decision making about my care? You have the right to consent to care that we offer to you.  Before you make a decision, it is important that you feel everything has been explained to your satisfaction. If you are unsure or do not understand something, ask for an explanation.

If you have documented your wishes about the health care you want to receive, at the moment or in the future, in an advanced care plan such as a representation agreement (sometimes referred to as a living will), or a similar document, bring this to the attention of your family and health care providers and bring a copy with you, if possible.

What do I need to bring?

• BC Care Card

• Medication prescriptions
• War veteran and pension cheque stubs or regiment number
  
• Most recent income tax return or notice of assessment (some services charge a fee based on your income)
• Name and telephone number of your doctors
• Name and address of a close relative or friend

It is important that our health care professionals fully understand your health care situation and needs. Please ask questions if you are not sure about what services are available to you. Step 3 - Develop a care plan If you are eligible for services, a health care professional will work with you to develop a care plan that meets your needs. The care plan will be updated as your care situation changes.

If there is a waiting list for the services that best meet your needs, the health care professional will work with you to ensure that the best services are in place to address your health needs while you are waiting.

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