Home & Community Care

Caregiver Support

Community Resources

The following are quick links to useful community resources for family and friend caregivers.

Community Agencies:

• 411 Seniors Centre Society
• ALS Society of Canada
• Alzheimer Society of Canada
• Arthritis Society of Canada
• Association of Care Reform
• BC Association for Community Living (BCACL)
• BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD)
• BC Paraplegic Association
• Canadian Cancer Society
• Canadian Cancer Society – Cancer Information Services – 1-888-939-3333
• Canadian Caregiver Coalition
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Canadian Association for the 50 Plus (CARP)
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada
• Parkinson Society of BC
• Seniors Housing Information Program (SHIP)
• Stroke Recovery Association of BC
• Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Canada

Information Services:

• BC NurseLine – puts you in touch with a Registered Nurse who will answer your questions about symptoms, health concerns, recommended course of action, when to see a health professional and further health resources – 24 hour line.
  • Lower Mainland: 604.215.4700; Toll-free: 1.866.215.4700
  • Deaf and hearing impaired: Toll-free: 1.866.TTY.4700
• Community Contacts for Older Adults
• Dial-a-Dietitian – is a free nutrition information line available to British Columbians in four languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Punjabi.
  • Lower Mainland: 604.732.9191
  • Toll-free: 1.800.667.3438
• Health and Seniors’ Information Line – provides general information about Ministry of Health programs and services, and initiatives and about health and non-health services for British Columbia seniors.
  • Toll-free: 1.800.465.4911
• The Red Book: Directory of Services in the Lower Mainland - a comprehensive guide to community, social and government agencies and services available across the Lower Mainland. Published by Information Services Vancouver.

Legal Resources:

• Electronic Law Line - provides references to online information.
  • Lower Mainland: 604.408.2172
  • Toll-free: 1.866.577.2525
• Lawyer Referral Services - provides the name and telephone number of a lawyer who will give a half-hour consultation for a small charge.
  • Lower Mainland: 604.687.3221
  • Toll-free: 1.800.663.1919
• Law Students Legal Advice Clinics - Law students from the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria offer free legal help with some legal matters.
  • Lower Mainland: 604.822.5791
• Legal Services Society Call Centre - Staff on the Legal Services Society Call Centre can answer legal questions and direct people to other information or services that can help them solve their legal problems. They do not give legal advice.
  • Lower Mainland: 604.408.2172
  • Toll-free: 1.866.577.2525
• Public Guardian and Trustee of BC - operates under provincial law to protect the legal rights and interests of vulnerable British Columbians. The Public Guardian and Trustee can become trustee of people’s finances if no one else is willing and able to help them. The office can investigate the misuse of Power of Attorney where the donor has become “mentally incapable.”
• The People’s Law School - provides free public education classes on legal topics of popular interest, staff training sessions, easy-to-read booklets, and free brochures. Covers landlord and tenant law, property law, labour law, and family law. Many of these services are also available in Cantonese, Spanish, Punjabi, Vietnamese, Japanese, Persian, and Mandarin. Does not provide legal advice or counselling to individuals.
• Representation Agreement Resource Centre - provides education and assistance in making and using representation agreements and enduring power of attorney. Promotes awareness of representation agreements as an alternative to guardianship for people who because of disability, illness, or injury, need assistance to manage their financial, health, personal, and legal affairs.