Delivering More Than Groceries: How Better at Home Helps Seniors Thrive.

For many older adults in BC, something as simple as grocery shopping can feel impossible. Physical limitations, loss of a driver’s license, and harsh winter conditions can make leaving home a daunting task. Through the United Way BC Better at Home program, seniors like Janice and Harold have found a lifeline—one that delivers not just groceries, but dignity, independence, and human connection.

A Program Built on Care

Better at Home supports older adults to age in place by helping with everyday non-medical tasks that allow seniors to live independently while staying connected to their communities. One of its most valued services is grocery shopping assistance. Last year, almost 21,300 grocery services were delivered to older adults across BC.

In Kamloops, the program is coordinated by Interior Community Services and operates through a unique partnership with a local grocery store. Every Thursday, volunteers gather at the store that provides a dedicated checkout lane and free delivery for seniors’ orders. Volunteers call participants ahead of time, take their grocery lists, and shop on their behalf—sometimes spending over 50 hours a week collectively to make sure none of the 57 current program participants go without.

Janice’s Story

At 85, Janice has lived a life full of resilience. Born in England during the war, she grew up with severe vision problems that went undiagnosed for years. Today, she is completely blind in one eye and has very limited sight in the other. Grocery shopping, once routine, became a challenge.

“It’s really difficult for me to get out,” she says, “I still do a bit myself but I find with fruit or vegetables, I’ve got it home and it’s already going bad – I can’t see that. And in winter when it’s snowy, I don’t like being out there….it’s treacherous.”

When someone in her complex suggested the Better at Home program, Janice decided to give it a try. Now, every week, she receives groceries without the stress and danger of venturing out. For her, the program means more than convenience—it means security and independence.

“It’s so simple,” she says. “All you do is make that phone call, and you can guarantee somebody will phone you to get your order.”

Harold’s Story

Harold’s journey is different but just as compelling. At nearly 90 years old, diabetes has caused severe neuropathy in both legs, leaving him barely able to walk. Losing his driver’s license—and then suffering a stroke—was the final blow to his independence.

“I don’t know what I would have done without this program,” Harold shares. “It’s helped me immensely.”

Every Thursday morning, a volunteer calls to take his order, and later that day, his groceries arrive at his door. For Harold, this service isn’t just practical—it’s life-changing.

“There are other grocery delivery services,” he says, “but they cost a lot of money. United Way has really helped me.”

More Than Groceries

What makes this program truly special is the human connection. Volunteers—most of them seniors themselves—don’t just shop; they build relationships. They know their clients’ stories and offer kindness that goes beyond the grocery list. For Janice, those small gestures mean the world. She recalls a volunteer’s wife who baked homemade cookies for every client at Easter.

“That was a really nice extra touch and I never met her,” Janice says, “but I thought how nice she must be to do something like that.”

Why It Matters

For seniors who can’t drive, struggle with mobility, have financial constraints or simply don’t want to burden family members, this program is a lifeline. It preserves independence, fosters community, and ensures that aging at home doesn’t mean aging alone.

“One of the reasons our program is so popular is because we do phone ins,” says Tammy Rosch, Better at Home Coordinator. “99% of the seniors that we are servicing don’t have a computer, don’t know how to use the computer or are not comfortable doing online shopping.”

“And they like the human connection, talking with the volunteers each week.”

“It means a world of difference to all of the seniors. It’s life-altering for a lot of people.”

Thanks to the generous support of our partners and the Government of BC, more than 20,100 seniors in BC were empowered to live independently in the comfort of their homes through Better at Home last year.

With your help, we can continue expanding this vital work—reaching more seniors in more communities and ensuring no one faces aging alone.

Join us in building a future where every senior feels seen, supported, and valued.

Let’s Be United for Seniors. Donate Today.