In 2002, the B.C. government made adjustments to the systems and process for providing subsidized care, creating through the various Health Authorities throughout the province a one stop resource to assist people seeking subsidized housing and care assistance.
There are six Health Authorities in BC: Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Interior Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority, Northern Health Authority, and the Provincial Health Services Authority.
Whether you’re in need of basic assistance while performing daily activities such as bathing, grooming or taking medication (i.e. Assisted Living), or whether you require 24-hour professional medical care (i.e. Complex Care), regional Health Authorities provide subsidized services you may be eligible to access.
If you are in financial need of subsidized care you first must contact your regional office and describe your situation. You will be asked a variety of questions to better help case workers understand your care needs. Depending on your personal situation, a case worker may visit you to perform a thorough assessment of your functional ability and needs.
Access to subsidized care is based on assessment of need, risk and urgency. Once you have been assessed and your level of need determined, you may be placed on a waitlist.
If you are seeking subsidization for supportive services you must be able to direct your own care, but require both personal assistance and hospitality services. Subsidized rental payments for Supportive Living settings are calculated at 70 percent of after tax income.
If you are seeking access to a Complex Care residence your acceptance into the facility will be determined based on the need for 24 hour supervision and professional care and the demonstration that your care cannot be met with available community resources. If you are admitted into a subsidized Complex Care facility, you will be charged a daily rate, for care services, based on your level of income.
Placing your name on a waitlist in anticipation of future care needs is not permitted. You may identify your facility preference during the assessment period but spaces are booked as they come available. Although you may not initially get into your preferred facility, once you have been admitted into the subsidized care system, you can request a transfer to another facility – locally or anywhere in B.C.
For more information about the services and subsidized care options in your area, contact the Home & Community Care office in your region. This office can be located by looking in the Yellow Pages. In the light blue pages, which contain provincial resources, you will find several pages with the title “HEALTH AUTHORITIES” at the top. The offices within the telephone directory’s region will be listed by municipality under “Home & Community Care.” By calling the toll free number 1-888-533-2273, you can obtain the office phone numbers of other municipalities outside your region. This should put you in contact with the appropriate office and an intake worker or case manager will be able to take your call, answer your questions, or get the assessment process started for you.
Below are the six Health Authorities in BC:
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
11th Floor – 601 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4C2
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-884-0888
Local (604) 736-2033
Fax: (604) 875-4750
Vancouver Island Health Authority
1952 Bay Street
Victoria, B.C. V8R 1J8
Phone: (250) 370-8699
Fax: (250) 370-8750
Interior Health Authority
220 – 1815 Kirschner Road
Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 4N7
Phone: (250) 862-4200
Fax: (250) 862-4201
Fraser Health Authority
300 – 10334 152A Street
Surrey, B.C. V3R 7P8
Phone: (604) 587-4600
Fax: (604) 587-4666
Northern Health Authority
Suite 600 – 299 Victoria St
Prince George, B.C. V2L 5B8
Phone: (250) 565-2649
Fax: (250) 565-2640
Provincial Health Services Authority
700-1380 Burrard St
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H3
Phone: (604) 675-7400
Fax: (604) 708-2700
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