Several provincial and northern organizations have joined forces in a new project aimed to improving the quality of life and health in the fastest-growing segment of Northern B.C.'s population.
The project provides the applicants with non-medical support services, which include social outreach, transportation and housecleaning for 112 Prince George senior citizens. The aim is to show what kinds of services are most needed and work best for seniors.
"The project came about after a lot of consultations that took place in Northern B.C. The Prince George Council of Seniors (PGCOS) held a series called, Seniors Dialogues... and we organized a northern conference two years ago on aging well in Northern, rural and remote communities," said Dawn Hemingway, associate professor at UNBC's School of Social Work.
The most common desire amongst the seniors studied was to stay in their own home for as long as possible, and the results from the project will assist decision makers to put in place effective and sustainable services.
"One of the issues with living in the north is the remoteness of some of the communities and trouble with access of services," said Marcia Leiva, Northern Health Lead Primary Health Care Community Programs Integration.
"We need to look at how we can deliver these services and make them available in a way that is going to improve the lives of seniors, but that's also reasonable in terms of cost effectiveness," said Hemingway.
UNBC's School of Social Work, Northern Health's Primary Health Care Integrated Health Network and Home & Community Care, United Way of Northern British Columbia, Providence Health Care (Vancouver) and the School of Population and Public Health at UBC, are all involved in the project.
"The partners involved are trying to pull on all the strengths we have in our community, to cover all the bases," said Hemingway.
"A really important component has been how the lives of seniors have been impacted and who are receiving these services. Also, how has it impacted other services [seniors] may need and what model would work best for Northern B.C.," said Hemingway.
There are 35 volunteers currently involved in the project who are responsible for the transportation and social outreach.
The house keeping portion of the province was organized through the PGCOS.
A list of prescreened agencies with several different price points is available to the seniors in the project.
The pilot phase of the project received some funding that's expected to run out by the end of September, however the group is actively looking for ways to extend the project beyond their funding.
The cities of Prince Rupert and Fort St. John will be initiated in the fall of 2011.
Seniors interested in joining the study should contact the PGCOS at 250-564-9100.
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