Brittany von Burg (second from left), program co-ordinator with Better at Homes, which assists seniors in Osoyoos and Oliver with services that allow them to remain in their homes longer, made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos last week. Von Burg is seen with new club president Brian Rawlings, outgoing president Marieze Tarr (far right) and Better at Homes social worker in training Cheryl Martin. (Keith Lacey photo)
A program designed to allow local seniors to live longer and more comfortably in their own homes continues to expand and thrive.
Brittany von Burg, the program co-ordinator for the South Okanagan Better at Home program, was the special guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Osoyoos weekly meeting last Thursday at the Best Western Inn in Osoyoos.
Von Burg told the Rotarians that programs that serve and assist seniors in both Osoyoos and Oliver are continuing to thrive.
The program, that used to be called Community Action for Seniors’ Independence (CASI), was formed in 2010 and was run as a division of the Osoyoos Seniors Centre.
But the name was changed more than three years ago and it has been run under the auspices of the Desert Sun Resource and Counselling Centre for more than three years.
“We currently have 441 seniors who are enrolled in our programs … and we’ve had 112 new clients sign up in the last year,” said Von Burg. “We continue to grow.”
Just over 75 per cent of those who access programs and services offered through the Better at Home program live in Osoyoos, but there is a growing number who live in Oliver, she said.
Seniors are an important and growing part of communities across B.C. and that’s no different in Osoyoos or Oliver and their active involvement enriches everyone’s lives, said von Burg.
To ensure that seniors continue to play an active part in their respective communities, they often need support to live independently in their own homes, surrounded by friends, families and neighbours, she said.
Better at Home helps seniors with simple day-to-day tasks, which allows them to maintain their independence and stay connected with their community, she said.
Some of the services offered include yard work, home repair, friendly visiting, transportation to appointments, snow shoveling, housekeeping and grocery shopping, she said.
The most popular services are housekeeping, transportation to appointments – especially grocery shopping, she said.
Fees for services are determined on a sliding scale based on ability to pay and are subject to some local variables, she said.
“Some services are offered for free” if the client is seriously lacking in disposable income, she said.
The people who provide the services for the Better at Home program range from paid staff (housekeeping) to a large array of volunteers, she said.
Von Burg reiterated that the bottom line of the programs and services offered through the Better at Home program is to try and keep as many seniors living comfortably in their own homes as possible.
“We are trying to keep as many seniors at home as long as possible,” she said.
Just recently, Better at Home increased the age of its clients from 60 to 65, however, all those currently receiving assistance will be “grandfathered” and will continue to get help, she said.
The rise in age to 65 was made simply due to economic realities and the funding the organization receives, she said.
“We just changed the age to 65 for funding reasons just within the last month,” she said.
In rare cases, Better at Home will provide assistance and services to people who are not seniors, but are in dire need of assistance, she said.
The United Way has also been a strong supporter and does provide partial funding to the program, she said.
There are currently eight volunteer drivers in Osoyoos who transport clients to medical appointments, grocery store visits and other services and the organization could always use more, she said.
The organization does own its own mini van and it is used on a regular basis to transport clients, she said.
“We have gone as far as Vernon to provide services,” she said.
There is no limit to the number of trips clients can access in any given week, she said.
Better at Home always has its door open and would like to hear from local seniors who could use assistance with programs and services offered to allow them to remain in their own homes, said von Burg.
Von Burg said she works closely with management from Desert Sun and can easily put clients from Better at Home in touch with counselling services provided by Desert Sun staff.
She also works regularly with management and volunteers with the Desert Valley Hospice Society, which provides care and counselling for clients and family members facing end of life decisions, she said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
