Additional Community Support

Our Island Health partners can offer further services and programs tailored to your healthcare needs. 

Available Services

Use this drop-down menu to learn more about other services that can support you.

Adult Mental Health and Substance Use Services

A range of services from short-term crisis intervention to rehabilitation and housing for adults with serious mental illness and/or substance use issues.

Visit our Mental Health and Substance Use Services page to learn more about what is available in your community.

Brain Injury Program*

The Brain Injury Program (BIP) provides services to help regain, improve, or maintain function and independence for adults with an acquired brain injury.

Brain Injury Program Services:

• Are subject to availability and are voluntary
• Can have costs attached when associated with residential services

BIP staff will determine if an applicant is eligible. Services fall into two categories: Community Services and Community Supported Living Options.

Community Services

Transitional Supports

Short-term community support to address activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and behavioural support needs.  

Please note: This program runs for a maximum duration of eight (8) hours of support per week for up to 26 weeks

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Supports

Long-term support providing task-specific intervention in a community setting. IADL supports provide:

• A maximum of 15 hours per month 
• Task-specific support only (e.g., facilitation of medical appointments, bi-monthly grocery shopping, and assistance with medication renewal)

Community Supported Living Options

The Brain Injury Program can provide accommodation, though availability is limited. These are delivered in a variety of settings such as Transitional supported apartments, family care homes, and group living. The type and level of support will vary dependent on the setting.  

Transitional Supported Apartments 

Short-term (maximum of three years) supported living environments in individual apartments located in Victoria and Campbell River. These are for clients who are focusing on acquiring practical skills and regaining function as they transition to independent living. 

Transitional Support Apartments provide:

• Daytime access to support 
• Skill development in activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and behavioural support 
• Community connection 
• Gender non-specific care

Please note: There is no overnight support provided.

Group Living Resource - Victoria

A longer term home-like environment that supports clients to maximize cognitive, physical, and social recovery. Working in partnership with community programs, these group living environments provide:

• 10 individual rooms with shared common areas 
• Overnight awake support 
• 24/7 support 
• Meals preparation 
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and behavioural support 
• Community access 

Please note: The Group Living Resource is a gender-specific program for males only.

Family Care Homes – Island Wide

A longer term home-like environment that supports clients to maximize cognitive, physical, and social recovery. Working in partnership with community programs, family care homes provide:

• Individual rooms or suites in family-owned residences with shared common areas
• Overnight sleep support
• 24/7 access to support 
• Meals
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and behavioural support
• Community access
• Non gender-specific care

Residents of all Community Supported Living Options must adhere to policies (e.g., no substance use or violence). Community Supported Living Options reserve the right to decline potential resident.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be 19 years of age or older 
• Have a diagnosis for (or medical evidence of) an acquired brain injury after birth (e.g., CT scan, MRI report, neurological or physiatrist's report) 
• Live within the boundaries of Island Health and meet residency requirements as defined by Community Health Services
• Have limited or no funding or access to services from other sources such as - ICBC, WorkSafe, Crime Victims Assistance Program, Veteran's Affairs, etc.
• Client consent required for referral.

Community Virtual Care

Registered nurses help you monitor your condition from home. All of the tools needed are loaned to you at no cost.

Virtual programs include: 

• Chronic disease support and education
• Acute illness support
• Palliative support
• Caregiver support

Learn more about this service by heading to our Community Virtual Care web page. 

Hospice Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Hospice palliative care, also called end-of-life care, includes a range of services for dying people of all ages and their families.

Quality end-of-life care supports palliative clients, their families and caregivers before, during and after death, and addresses aspects of the illness and death experience that are:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Psychological
• Practical

Visit our Hospice Palliative & End-of-Life Care page to learn more about this service. 

Long-Term Care

Long-Term Care is for adults with complex medical and cognitive care needs who can no longer live safely or independently at home. 

Services include:

• Accommodation
• 24-hour nursing care
• Other professional services such as nursing, physical therapy, social work and nutritional support
• Hospitality services (i.e., meals, housekeeping, recreational activity programs, and emergency response)
• Personal care assistance
• End-of-life care

To learn more about Long-Term Care including costs and locations, visit our Long-Term Care web pages.

South Island Regional Resources for Adults With Disabilities (RRAD)

South Island Regional Resources for Adults with Disabilities (RRAD) provides education, clinical consultation, rehabilitation, and specialized support to adults with complex neurological health conditions. Clinicians help people re-engage in day-to-day activities to meet their health and wellbeing goals. 

These services are designed for clients whose community rehabilitation needs cannot be met by services provided by a home health team, facility, or ambulatory clinic.  

Services available

Speech-Language Pathology

• Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
• Swallowing assessment (no therapy) for clients with progressive neurological conditions

Physiotherapy

• Goal-oriented physical and functional mobility rehabilitation
• Support transition into an exercise or activity program in the community

Recreation Therapy

• Adjustment to disability through use of health coaching and self-management skill development  
• Addressing barriers to social determinants of health and community social connections
• Providing education on community resources specific to leisure interests and rehabilitation needs

Occupational Therapy

• Complex wheelchair seating
• Assistive Technology
• Goal oriented cognitive rehabilitation

Eligibility

To access RRAD, you must:

• Be 19 years of age or older and live in the South Island region
• Require complex rehabilitation following a new or changing neurological diagnosis (e.g., stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS])
• Be unable to access services provided by a home care team, ambulatory clinic, or other facility

Please note: There are some exclusions and the RRAD team is unable to see clients with:

• Major neurocognitive disorder as primary diagnosis
• Mental health and substance use as primary diagnosis

 

A referral from a clinician is required to access services. A separate referral is required for each service. Call our South Island Community Access Line for further information: 250-388-2273 / 1-888-533-2273

How to Access Services

Eligibility and Accessing Services

The BC Ministry of Health sets the eligibility requirements for our services and programs. Services and programs with costs attached have program-specific eligibility requirements. 

Visit our Accessing Community Health Services webpage to learn more about access and eligibility or call our Community Access Line below, with your care card ready.

Phones are answered seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

South Island: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. 250-388-2273 / 1-888-533-2273
Centre Island: 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.  250-739-5749 / 1-877-734-4101
North Island: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. 250-331-8570 / 1-866-928-4988

Costs

Services with an asterisk (*) have a cost attached.

Brain Injury Program*

Costs for the Brain Injury Program vary depending on individual circumstances and care setting. For accurate pricing information tailored to your situation, we encourage you to give us a call. Our team will be happy to help: 250-519-5299.

Other services are free of charge, but please check any individual web pages or with our Community Access Line for the most up to date information.

Indigenous Health

Visit our Indigenous Health Services web pages, Indigenous Health Topics web pages, and Indigenous Health Resources for support and information.

2SLGBTQIA+ Community

Access our 2SLGBTQIA+ Community Resources web page and the Gender Diverse & 2SLGBTQIA+ Health Services web page for local care and support.

English as a Foreign Language

Patients coming to an Island Health location can get interpreting services on-demand in the language they need during their appointment or visit. The service is also available to patients attending virtual care appointments. Learn more by visiting our Interpreting Services web page.

Printable Resources

Brain Injury Program

Community Health Services Brochure

Considering Long-Term Care

Please note: Services and programs vary between communities. We will make every effort to meet your individual care needs with the local resources available.