Health

Advance care planning means thinking ahead and writing down what you want for your healthcare if you can’t decide for yourself later. It includes what you’d like if you’re in the hospital, have an accident or are near the end of your life.  

Read about Advance Care Planning here.

B.C.’s regional health authorities all have some information on advance care planning. For more information, visit the links below:  

• Fraser Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Interior Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Northern Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Vancouver Coastal Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Vancouver Island Health Authority: Advance Care Planning 
• First Nations Health Authority: Advance Care Planning 

This video talks about advance care planning in five key steps. It includes pictures and words to help explain the information.  

Watch the Advance Care Planning Video here.

A medical order for scope of treatment (MOST) is a decision that is made with guidance from your doctor regarding levels and types of healthcare actions that you may need in the future. It is referred to as an “order” which must come from a doctor or nurse practitioner. A MOST form is used only by healthcare professionals.  

For medical orders for scope of treatment information and resources from your health authority, click on the links below. 

• Fraser Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment 
• Interior Health: Medical Orders for Scope Treatment 
• Island Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment 
• Northern Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment 
• Vancouver Coastal Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment

This guide and workbook will help you complete an advance care plan. This means thinking about your wishes for health care decisions in the event you are unable to make them in the future.  

Read the My Voice – Expressing my Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment guide here.

Disability Alliance BC has prepared this help sheet about health supplements from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR) to help you understand what services and supplies you may be eligible to receive. 

Find the Health Supplements for People with Disabilities help sheet here.

Disability Alliance BC has prepared this help sheet to help you complete the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR)’s application form for the Monthly Nutritional Supplement (MNS) benefit. 

Find the Monthly Nutritional Supplement for People with Disabilities help sheet here.

Lifeline devices allow you to press a button on them if you need medical help. For example, if you fall and break a bone.   

Lifeline is an easy-to-use personal response service that lets you request help any time of the day or night, even if you can’t speak. 

Visit the Lifeline Medical Alert Products website here.

MedicAlert® offers different identification bracelets or tags that alert first responders such as paramedics about your health conditions, medications, allergies or implanted medical devices, as well as notifying them of specific health directions and plans you’ve previously made. 

Visit the MedicAlert Foundation Canada website here.

People who live in B.C. can get help from BC PharmaCare to pay for: 

• Many prescription drugs 
• Some medical devices and supplies 
• Pharmacy services

See the Health Supplements for People with Disabilities Resource above for a help sheet explaining the resources.  

Learn more about PharmaCare for B.C. residents here.

The Red Cross provides a variety of health equipment loan services across B.C. The Canadian Red Cross provides aids such as: 

• Bath boards and bath chairs 
• Bath transfer benches 
• Bath tub grab bar (tub grip) 
• Bed cradles, Bed assist handles 
• Canes, commodes 
• Crutches, IV poles 
• Raised toilet seats 
• Toilet safety frames 
• Wheelchairs, walkers 

Learn about the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program here.

What can you do if you believe you’ve been discriminated against? Disability Alliance BC shares some possible steps in this help sheet.

Find the What can you do if you experience discrimination in Health Care? help sheet here.

This toolkit provides recommendations to be fully prepared if you need to take a family member to the hospital. 

Find the Family/Person with Disability Toolkit for Healthcare Settings here.

This is a free online tool that families can use to create a personalized information booklet for a loved one to avoid repeating your story to doctors, nurses, therapists etc.  

Learn about myBooklet BC here.

Real Talk videos show real-life situations and honest conversations. People of all ages, all genders, all orientations, and all abilities get together and speak openly about everything to do with dating, love, relationships and sex. 

Visit the Real Talk website here.

8-1-1 is a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line available in British Columbia. By calling 8-1-1, you can speak to a health service navigator who can help you find health information and services; or connect you directly with a registered nurse, a registered dietitian, a qualified exercise professional or a pharmacist. 

Dial 8-1-1 on your phone.

Learn more about 8-1-1 on the HealthLink BC website here.

Assisted living provides housing, meals, and support for individuals who need help with daily activities but do not require full-time medical care. It aims to promote independence while offering assistance with tasks like bathing, dressing and medication management.  

Learn about Assisted Living in B.C. here.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help ease financial barriers to accessing dental health care for eligible Canadian residents. People on PWD are eligible if they meet all the other conditions.  

Learn about the Canada Dental Care Plan here.

Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) is a program where people who need home support receive funding directly from their local health authority to hire and manage their own caregivers. This allows them to control who provides their care, when the care is given, and how tasks are done.

CSIL clients act as employers, handling everything from hiring staff to managing the budget. Those who can’t do this on their own can have a representative or a support group help them with these responsibilities. 

 Learn more about Choice in Supports for Independent Living here.

Register on the Health Connect Registry to get a family doctor or nurse practitioner in your community. 

Find the Health Connect Registry here.

This service is available for only those CLBC individuals who are eligible under the developmental disability stream. 

Health Services for Community Living (HSCL) is a home and community care program that provides health services assessment, planning and care supports to adults with developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers. 

Please speak to your CLBC Facilitator if you need these health supports. 

Each health authority has their own HSCL, which you can learn about at the links below:

• Vancouver Island Health HSCL
• Vancouver Coastal Health HSCL
• Fraser Health HSCL
• Interior Health HSCL
• Northern Health HSCL

Home support services help you to remain independent and to live in your own home as long as possible. 

Home support services are direct care services provided by community health workers to individuals who require personal assistance with activities of daily living, such as: 

• mobility
• nutrition 
• lifts and transfers 
• bathing and dressing 
• cueing (providing prompts to assist with the completion of tasks)
• grooming and toileting

Learn about Home Health here.

Home support services help you to remain independent and to live in your own home as long as possible. 

Home support services are direct care services provided by community health workers to clients who require personal assistance with activities of daily living,  

Learn more about home support here.

Long-term care services provide 24-hour professional supervision and care in a protective, supportive environment for people who can no longer be cared for in their own homes or in an assisted living residence.  

Learn about Long Term Care Services here.

This website helps people in British Columbia find updates about clinics and how to make appointments with their doctor. If you don’t have a doctor, Pathways can help you find local places where you can get medical help.

Learn more on the Pathways website here.

Falls are one of the main causes of injury and loss of independence in people who are experiencing aging related changes.  

Find resources to help prevent falls and injuries here.

 Find fall prevention from B.C.’s regional health authorities at the links below: 

• Vancouver Coastal Fall Prevention Services 
• Fraser Health Fall Prevention Mobile Clinic 
• Northern Health Seniors Fall Prevention 
• Interior Health Fall Prevention in Community Care
• Island Health – Seniors Health and Safety  

Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) provide access to same-day, urgent, non-emergency health care. UPCCs are often open evenings, weekends and statutory holidays (actual hours vary by clinic).  

UPCCs are for non-emergency issues that do not need an emergency department. For example, patients who require medical attention within 12 to 24 hours for something like a sprain, minor cut or burn can visit an Urgent and Primary Care Centre. 

This resource shows you all the Primary Care Networks available to you in B.C.