Island Health will be assuming responsibility for the delivery of publicly-funded home support services on Denman and Hornby Islands effective December 15, 2022.
Island Health and the Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society, the non-profit society that currently delivers health authority funded home support services on Hornby and Denman Islands, are working together to transition the current home support services to Island Health.
Home support services are provided for people in their homes to enable them to live independently by providing the care and support they need to live safely and longer in their own homes and in their communities. Home support helps eligible clients with things like assisting them to take their medications, bathing and dressing, as well as respite for a caregiver or care for individuals at end of life.
“The Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society has been a valuable partner, and we want to thank the Society for its many years of service in home support delivery,” said James Hanson, Island Health vice president, clinical services delivery, north and central island. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Society to ensure a smooth transition for clients receiving home support services and their families.”
Island Health already directly delivers home support services in the majority of communities on Vancouver Island. This shift of health care service on Hornby and Denman Islands will support the streamlining of services and enhance the efficient use of resources, technologies and systems.
Beginning December 15, 2022, Island Health will assume responsibility for scheduling and delivering home support services to the current clients and families receiving publicly funded home support on the islands. The society will continue serving the community through its other charitable community programs, and it will continue to contract with Island Health for the delivery of some other community-based services, including youth outreach/counselling services.
“Over the coming months, Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society will be transitioning the delivery of publicly-funded home support services to Island Health to better support complex, medically-frail residents on the islands,” said George McRae, President. “Our organization will continue building a comprehensive seniors support program that enables seniors and others to live well in our community. By moving our focus from providing health care services for adults with medical needs, we will build a broader program with a greater variety of much needed support for seniors, including for transportation, meal delivery and house maintenance.”
Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society staff who are affected by the change will be offered the opportunity to join the Island Health team. Island Health is committed to ensuring the transition of employees is respectful, that they continue to receive compensation and benefits they are entitled to under their collective agreement, and the transition and employment for unionized employees complies with the requirements and provisions set out in their collective agreements.
Clients and families with questions about the transition can contact Island Health’s Community Care Access line at 250-388 2273 or toll-free at 1-888-533-2273, or email Jennifer.Block@islandhealth.ca.