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Your Housing Options

JSA Snider Foundation Empowerment Series February 1st 2012. Donna Kantor of JFSA coordinated the second of a series of six.
First presenter was Kelly Therrien, Representative of Manulife. Ms. Therrien gave a brief update for seniors living in their own home. For seniors with money issues one can get a reverse mortgage. Also there is an ability to access a line of credit.

Second presenter was Michelle Cunnington, General Manager of Cavell Gardens. Ms. Cunnington gave a thorough description of an “Independent Supportive Living” facility. Included were prices, and what one receives from the facility. This includes housekeeping, recreation, all meals and two snacks, 24 hour person at front desk. If one needs extra help you can pay extra privately. Cavell Gardens is one of the most reasonable facilities. A number of Jewish residents live there.

The third presenter, Mavis Friesen, Manager of Supportive Living for Vancouver Coastal Health includes Assisted Living Beds that are mostly in the for profit sector. Ms. Friesen had a massive job to describe what these levels of care are in the community, how much of this support is subsidized and how an individual is assessed and assisted. One example, in the Weinberg facility there are 40 Assisted Living units, a few are subsidized. If you cannot pay the full monthly fee you could wait up to three years for a subsidized unit. Assisted living was introduced about 10 years ago. It was to be all private care. At that same time home support services were reduced. Assisted living beds were eventually subsidized.

In Vancouver 600 beds are subsidized.The home support worker looks after you in your home or your Independent Supportive Living facility. If one can no longer look after one’s self under these two categories the next level is Residential Care.

One important question concerned extra care in our community! Jewish Family Service Agency has been instrumental in raising funds through various philanthropies specifically for support services this has enabled expansion not only to the Jewish Community but also to the general West Side community. These support services are supplied on a sliding scale according to ability to pay. We in the Jewish Community especially Seniors are very fortunate for the extra safety net we have through Jewish Family Service Agency, advocacy of Jewish Seniors Alliance and the programming of the Jewish Community Centre Seniors Department.

The next event in the You and Your Money series is Your Healthcare Options and will be held Monday February 13. This event is being hosted by Kehila Richmond Jewish Seniors at Beth Tikvah Synagogue, 9711 Geal Road, Richmond. There will be an optional luncheon at noon for $12. The program is free and starts at 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

For further information please contact Karon Shear, 604.264.9026

A report for the Jewish Seniors Alliance of Greater Vancouver by Lucy Laufer

Introduction to Senior Care Options

Donna Kantor, Seniors Outreach Worker introduces the topic of the various options available for Senior Care.

Remain in Your Own Home

Kelly Therrien, Representative of Manulife gave a brief update for seniors living in their own home. For seniors with money issues one can get a reverse mortgage. Also there is an ability to access a line of credit.

Independent Supportive Living

Michelle Cunnington, General Manager of Cavell Gardens described an “Independent Supportive Living” facility. Included were prices, and what one receives from the facility.

Levels of Supportive Living

Mavis Friesen, Manager of Supportive Living for Vancouver Coastal Health, described what the various levels of care are in the community. She spoke of subsidized support and how an individual is assessed and assisted.

Eligibility and Access to Services

Paulona Ho, from Central Intake Services, Vancouver Coastal Health, described the ways to access home support, assisted living or residential care.

Final Wrap Up

Leah Deslauriers from the Jewish Community Centre, spoke about the network of resources, navigation through the system and coordination of services.

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