Home Support
Related topics: Home & community care
Home support services support independence, health, and wellness in your own home as long as possible.
What to expect
Home support is care at home to help you remain independent and enhance your quality of life. Our services supplement how you care for yourself, in addition to support provided by your family, friends, community, or other available services.
Our services are personal support services provided by community health workers (CHWs) to clients who require assistance with daily living activities such as:
- Bathing, dressing and toileting
- Helping you move around or get in and out of bed safely
- Heating and serving meals
- Providing a break for your caregiver
- Helping you take your medication
Examples of services that home support does not provide include:
- Extensive cleaning and cooking
- Banking, handling your money, and financial transactions
- Errands, personal shopping, and driving to appointments
- Yard work, home maintenance
- Companionship, child care, and pet care
- Services that involve heavy lifting or climbing
There may be other programs or community organizations that can assist you with these tasks. HealthLink BC provides listings for health services across the province. For help searching the directory, call 8-1-1 to speak with a health service navigator.
Contact us
If you or someone you know is seeking help, the first step is to contact us. We will help determine your care needs and connect you to the services, programs and resources that are right for you.
Health-care providers, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or social workers can also refer on your behalf using the home and community care referral form.
Home and community care access lines
- Bella Bella: (250) 957-2314
- Bella Coola: (250) 799-5311
- Powell River: (604) 485-3310
- Sunshine Coast (Gibsons, Sechelt): (604) 741-0726
- Sea to Sky (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton): (604) 892-2293
- North Shore (North Vancouver, West Vancouver): (604) 983-6700, fax: (604) 983-6839
- Richmond: (604) 675-3644, fax: (604) 278-4713
- Vancouver: (604) 263-7377, fax: (604) 267-3419
Frequently asked questions
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Is home support right for me?
Home support services are suitable if you have been assessed as requiring personal assistance and/or respite for a caregiver through a clinical assessment.
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Is there a cost for home support services?
Although the government subsidizes home support, you may need to pay for some of the cost. This is calculated based on your income and is guided by Ministry of Health policy. Your situation can be reviewed if the cost of service results in severe financial hardship.
For information on how the cost is calculated, talk to your VCH clinician.
Information materials
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Home support pamphlet
Regional information on what is home support and how to get access.
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Home support client handbook
Regional information on what is home support and how to get access.
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Related services
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Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO)
share your feedback through the Patient Care Quality Office, an accessible and transparent point of contact regarding the quality of care you received.
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Flexible Adaptable Home Support Team (FAHST)
The Flexible Adaptable Home Support Team (FAHST) provides Home Support services to vulnerable clients who may require more flexibility and consistency in their care.
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