Island Health will receive $1.3 million over three years to help seniors and Elders on North Vancouver Island stay safely in their homes and communities.
The funding, awarded by Health Research BC, will support Thriving in Community, a project focused on reducing social isolation, improving care coordination and addressing everyday practical needs that can otherwise lead to health crises and hospital visits.
The project will support seniors and Elders across North Vancouver Island and North Vancouver Island Nations, through partnerships with Indigenous communities, local organizations and health-care providers.
"Our Elders carry the knowledge, history, and strength of our communities. Supporting them to remain connected to home, family, and culture is deeply important," said Rosie Dugas, health director from the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations. "This project reflects a shared commitment to working together in ways that are respectful, community-centered, and responsive to the needs of seniors and Elders across the North Island."
Ian Wood, Island Health director of clinical services for North Vancouver Island and primary applicant for the project, said the initiative fills an important gap in care.
"Seniors and elders in our rural communities often face barriers that can turn small issues into health emergencies," said Wood. "This project will help us reach people earlier, coordinate their care more effectively and provide the supports they need to remain in the homes and communities where they want to be."
"Across Canada, about 25 per cent of people aged 65 and older are considered clinically frail. This means their health and strength are declining, making daily activities more difficult. Frailty increases the risk of falls, hospitalization, social isolation, loneliness and depression. These challenges can be even greater for seniors living in rural and remote communities, where access to health-care services, transportation, and social supports may be limited," said Max Jajszczok, Island Health executive director and also a primary researcher on this project.
The Thriving in Community project connects seniors and elders with three layers of support.
An enhanced friendly visiting program will match trained visitors with seniors and elders to build relationships, reduce isolation, and help identify unmet needs early.
An integrated care team will bring together community partners to coordinate care and services for seniors with complex needs. This team is being developed in partnership with the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations, North Island Crisis & Counselling Centre and Island Health, with a strong focus on culturally responsive care for First Nations Elders. The team will also provide education about local health services and help seniors navigate the health services.
The project will also offer flexible funding through philanthropic partners to address practical needs—such as transportation or home supports—before they become barriers to staying healthy at home. This approach aims to prevent health complications and reduce avoidable hospital visits and readmissions.
"We know that coordinated, community-based care can prevent hospitalization and help seniors live well at home," said Dr. Amy Salmon, evaluation co-lead and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health. "Our evaluation will measure how effective this approach is in a rural and remote setting, and what we learn can inform seniors' care across the province."
Dr. Salmon is also the inaugural Conconi Family Foundation Distinguished Scholar in Seniors Care at UBC, a role co-funded by three foundations that support Island.
"Through our partnership with the Thriving in Community project, the North Island Crisis & Counselling Centre is able to provide better support to seniors to remain connected and confident in their own homes and in their own communities. Working alongside our other seniors' programs, this unique project is about more than just providing additional services – it is about empowering seniors to thrive with dignity, belonging and will enhance their ability to live well in the communities they call home," said Nicki Ranger, executive director of the North Island Crisis & Counselling Centre.
In addition to the Health Research BC funding, the Conconi Family Foundation and an anonymous donor have pledged $500,000 to support friendly visitor positions throughout the project.
"We believe in supporting seniors to age well in their communities," said Sanja Simic, executive director of the Conconi Family Foundation. "This project reflects our commitment to improving the quality of life for older adults on Vancouver Island. We're thrilled to support this innovative approach that is informed by lived experience of seniors and elders as well as the best evidence from research and practice."
Thriving in Community is one of five projects funded province-wide through Health Research BC's investment in seniors' health research, representing a total provincial investment of $6.3 million.