Better at Home Supports Many
Across the province, Better at Home serves many unique individuals for a variety of reasons. We see this in Prince George with personal stories from Elizabeth, Beverley, and Marlene.
Surrounded by beautiful lakes, flowing rivers, and forests as far as the eye can see, Prince George has a stunning and diverse natural beauty. In what is often referred to as British Columbia’s “Northern Capital,” you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city while still having everything you need. For many, like Beverley, Elizabeth, and Marlene, it’s the ideal place to retire. Beverley loves gardening and says, “I thought about moving to the Osoyoos but that wouldn’t be as good for plants,” with a smile.
Retirement can be tough though, it becomes harder to do the things you love, the things that need to be done, and it can be lonely. United Way BC’s Better at Home program is dedicated to helping seniors and Elders manage day-to-day tasks; enabling them to maintain their independence within the comfort of their homes while staying closely connected to their communities and maintain quality of life.
In each community, Better at Home services are delivered by local non-profit organizations, utilizing volunteers, contractors, and/or paid staff. In Prince George, Better at Home is delivered by the Prince George Council of Seniors (PGCOS). Through PGCOS, Elizabeth, Beverley, and Marlene receive assistance with housekeeping and groceries.
A little extra help
Elizabeth loves to be out in the community and is happiest when walking around the Pine Centre Mall or down the aisles of Superstore to get some light groceries. Between her walker, sore back, and vulnerability to bone fractures, small items are all that is feasible for Elizabeth to get by herself. This doesn’t stop her excursions, but it does mean she can’t always get what she needs independently. Through Better at Home’s grocery service she can get the heavier necessities.
Going on these outings is also one of the best ways for Elizabeth to socialize, as Elizabeth now lives here on her own and life can be lonely. The relationship that Elizabeth has with Better at Home program staff is something she greatly appreciates. “When she phones for the grocery order she always sounds like such a kind, kind person,” says Elizabeth of those who support her. Relationships like this are more important than ever for seniors like Elizabeth.
Connecting with family and friends
Beverley is deeply connected with her family and loves social interactions. Her vibrant personality shines with a love for colourful clothes, Facebook Marketplace, gardening, and watching the Price is Right while keeping active on her exercise bike. She enjoys going to Walmart between grocery deliveries and keeping her house tidy, but her compromised balance limits what she can do safely. Better at Home’s housekeeping service helps Beverley maintain the clean household that she loves, even getting into all of the corners, nooks, and crannies that she can’t, leaving them spotless!
Before Better at Home, Beverley felt alone, as her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild continue to grow up and live their busy lives. Loneliness is increasingly common for many seniors in our province. Now, she gets invited to events PGCOS knows will interest her, like watching a choir perform, and has the opportunity to connect with Better at Home program staff regularly, “They are easy to deal with, very resourceful, and prompt and consistent with services,” Beverley says.
Finding comfort at home with some help
For Marlene, Better at Home has been pivotal for her quality of life. Marlene has been accessing help through Better at Home and says, “It has been a real lifesaver.” She loves to fill her days with reading, jigsaw puzzles, or tending to the impressive garden alongside her house, but most of all, she enjoys outings and tries to get out as much as she can, especially to the local Farmer’s Market.
These outings can be tough on Marlene though, who fell a few years ago resulting in a shattered pelvis. Since that injury, she has been on the waitlist for hip surgery. Combined with her frequent shoulder pain and having already endured eight stint surgeries, going out has become increasingly difficult.
Because of her mobility issues, Marlene can’t engage in longer excursions like grocery shopping. She shares, “I would be really, really struggling. I would have to go to the grocery store to get little bits every day. I would have to be working at it all week to keep up on the bare minimum.”
Better at Home provides Marlene and many other seniors with some much needed reassurance. “The fact that they are there, there for me, and the rest of the seniors. It’s very comforting.” Whether it’s grocery help, social events, or housekeeping, United Way BC’s Better at Home program is an important connection for many seniors living at home.
More seniors in need of support
With British Columbia’s ever-growing aging population, there are many more seniors who are entirely on their own and doing their best to overcome similar problems that Elizabeth, Beverley, and Marlene face without the support from programs like Better at Home.
Elizabeth shares that, “If it wasn’t for Better at Home and the cleaning service, you’d have to look for someone to clean and that’s expensive. You don’t make a great abundance from pension and I’m not ready for a senior’s home. I would highly recommend Better at Home to the seniors that are out there.”
Programs like Better at Home are made possible through partnership with the BC government and through those who donate to United Way BC. Help us bring programs like Better at Home to more seniors so they can keep living life the way they want to, with confidence and independence.