Community Health Services - Home & Community Care - Island Health Area

Caregiver Support, Condition Specific Support, End of Life Care / Palliative Care, Healthcare Providers, Home Health Care, and Services for Seniors

Provided by Island Health

A general enquiry line for individuals experiencing challenges living safely and independently at home to access a variety of in-home and community-based services to support living independently, improve health and quality of life, and to reduce the need for hospital visits through proactive care and other supports.
Community Health Services provide a range of home and community-based clinical, personal care, and supportive services to help patients live safely and independently, reduce hospital use, and support care transitions. Services are accessed through Community Access Centres using a central intake and assessment process. During this process, clinicians will assess eligibility, clinical need, function, and safety to determine the most appropriate supports. Home and community health services are organized below by type of care provided.

Case Management: Case Managers assess eligibility, needs, function, risk, and available supports to determine appropriate services, develop care plans, and coordinate care. They also support transitions between hospital, home, assisted living, and long-term care.

Clinical Care in the Home is for patients who require medical or therapeutic care at home, and may not be able to attend clinic-based services.
  • Home Care Nursing: Wound care (skin tears due to fragility, diabetic foot ulcers and lower leg wounds, post-surgical wound, pressure ulcers, ostomy and nephrostomy care), IV therapy, medication management, post-hospital care, palliative care, and more
  • Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy: Support for mobility, functional decline, physical disability, recovery, safety, and fall prevention
  • Respiratory Therapy: Support for chronic and complex respiratory conditions
  • Dietitian Services: Help with nutrition concerns including swallowing difficulties, tube feeding, and nutrition needs related to dementia, mental health, recovery, or palliative care
  • Social Work: Psychosocial support, safety concerns, adult abuse and neglect (Adult Guardianship Act) and care planning
Personal Care and Daily Living Support is provided for patients who need help with activities of daily living
  • Home Support (Community Health Workers): Help with bathing, dressing, heating and serving simple meals, medication assistance, and other daily care needs provided in the client’s home. CHS does not provide help with housekeeping, groceries, driving, or nail/foot care
  • Community Bathing Programs: Facility-based bathing support for people who cannot bathe safely at home

Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care for patients who can be supported remotely via telephone is offered through the Community Virtual Care program.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care is for patients with life-limiting illness requiring comfort-focused care.

Caregiver Support and Respite is available for caregivers who need support, education, or temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities
  • Adult Day Programs: Safe and supported activities outside of the home
  • Caregiver Support Program: One-one counselling and skills classes
  • Home Support (Community Health Workers): Bathing, dressing, medication assistance, and help with other daily care needs provided in the client’s home
  • Facility Respite: Specialized overnight care and support to clients of Community Health Services, giving caregivers a temporary break from their responsibilities, while ensuring quality care for their loved ones in a safe setting
Assessments for Long-Term Care and Assisted Living are for patients whose needs can no longer be safely supported at home

Specialized Programs and Populations Please note: Services and programs vary between communities

Eligibility and Referral

Eligibility depends on a client’s health conditions, how much support they currently have, and what they need help with. Call the Community Access Line (details below) or Practitioner Connector Line (for physicians and nurse practitioners only), for assessment and referral to services.
To receive services, clients must:
  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have a valid temporary resident permit
  • Be a resident of British Columbia
Please locate which region you belong to below, and call the associated Community Access Line.

Website: http://www.islandhealth.ca/chs

250-388-2273 (South Island)

Toll Free: 1-888-533-2273

Serves all communities south of Mill Bay, including Greater Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands and west to Port Renfrew.
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year

250-739-5749 (Central Island)

Toll Free: 1-877-734-4101

Serves all communities from Mill Bay to Deep Bay, including Gabriola Island, and from Parksville on the east to beyond Tofino/Ucluelet on the west coast.
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year

250-331-8570 (North Island)

Toll Free: 1-866-928-4988

Serves all communities north of Deep Bay including Mt. Waddington Regional District and the adjacent mainland area.
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year

Interpreter available upon request.

Cost: No cost or Fees may apply

Referral options:

  • Family physician or nurse practitioner referral
  • Self-referral

Details: Some programs and services DO require a FP/NP referral; inquire when calling the Community Access Line

Brochures and Info
Associated Programs/Services

Also offered by Island Health:

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Availability

Service area: Island Health Area + show cities

Service area cities: Alert Bay, Bamfield, Black Creek, Brentwood Bay, Campbell River, Cathedral Grove, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cumberland, Deep Bay, Denman Island, Duncan, Fanny Bay, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gold River, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Kyuquot, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Lantzville, Long Beach, Mayne Island, Merville, Mill Bay, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nitinaht, North Saanich, Parksville, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Saanich, Saanichton, Salt Spring Island, Saturna Island, Sayward, Shawnigan Lake, Sidney, Sointula, Sooke, Tahsis, Tofino, Ucluelet, Victoria, and Zeballos

Ways to Access
  • Provided at home
  • Provided at multiple locations
  • Provided by phone
  • Provided online: email / video / on-line

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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