Acquired Brain Injury Program

The Brain Injury Program (BIP) is an island wide community based program that provides services to assist in the regaining, improving, or maintaining function and/or independence for adults with acquired brain injury.

Brain Injury Program Services:

• Services are subject to availability and are voluntary
• BIP determines if an applicant is eligible for any service 
• There could be a fee associated with residential services

Services fall into two broad categories: Community Services and Community Supported Living Options, explained below.

Community Services

TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTS

Short term community supports that work with an individual to address activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and behavioural support needs by implementing compensatory strategies in a community setting. 

• Maximum duration of 26 weeks 
• Maximum eight hours of support per week 
• Does not provide sustained intervention

OUTREACH SUPPORTS

Longer term community supports that work with an individual by providing task specific sustained intervention in a community setting to maintain current stability. 

• Maximum 15 support hours per month 
• Task specific support only - eg. facilitation of medical appointments, twice a month grocery shopping, assistance with medication renewal

Supported Living Options

The Brain Injury Program has limited residential resources that provide accommodation supports in an abstinence-based setting. These supports are delivered in a variety of settings: transitional supported apartments and group living situations located in communities across Island Health. The type and level of support varies in these resources and is further defined in the descriptions below. Please note none of the resources have secured or locked environments.  

All Supported Living Options generally run at capacity, any questions about availability should be directed to the Brain Injury Program: 250-519-5299

TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTED APARTMENTS

Located in Victoria and Campbell River, these are short-term supported living environments in individual apartments, including market rental apartments, with a focus on acquiring practical skills and regaining function to transition to independent living.

• Maximum of three years 
• No overnight support 
• Daytime access to support 
• Skill development in ADLs, IADLs and behavioural support 
• Community connection 
• Gender non-specific 

GROUP LIVING RESOURCE - VICTORIA

A longer term, structured residential home-like environment that provides support with a focus on maximizing cognitive, physical and social recovery in partnership with community programs.  

• 10 individual rooms with shared common areas 
• Overnight awake support 
• 24/7 support 
• Meals prepared 
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and behavioural support 
• Community access 
• Gender specific - male only

FAMILY CARE HOMES - ISLAND WIDE

A longer term or temporary placement in a designated single family home that provides structure based on client need with a focus on maximizing cognitive, physical and social recovery in partnership with community programs.

• Individual rooms or suites in in  family owned residences with shared common areas
• Overnight sleep support
• 24/7 access to support 
• Meals
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and behavioural support
• Community access
• Non gender specific

All resources have policies that must be adhered to by residents, for example, no substance use and no violence.  All resources reserve the right to decline potential residents if deemed inappropriate by the prospective resource.

Applying for Service

General Eligibility Criteria

1. Be 19 years of age and older 
2. Diagnosis or medical evidence of an acquired brain injury after birth (e.g. CT Scan, MRI report, neurological or physiatrist's report) 
3. Live within the boundaries of Island Health and meet residency requirements as defined by Community Health Services
4. No or limited funding or access to services from other sources such as - ICBC, WorkSafe, Crime Victims Assistance Program, Veteran's Affairs, etc.

In addition to the above general criteria, certain programs within the Brain Injury Program have additional eligibility requirements.

Contacting Us

If you think that you, a friend, or a family member may need support from the Acquired Brain Injury Program, call the Community Access Centre in your region.

Please have the following information with you for yourself or the person you are calling for: 

• Full name
• BC Care Card or BC Services Card 
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Contact information of close relative/friend

If we cannot take your call, you will be asked to leave a message with a phone number to call you back at and the name of the person who you are calling for (if different from yourself).  

A Community Access Clerk will return your call as soon as possible to arrange for an Intake Clinician to contact you – it may take up to 72 hours if we are receiving many phone calls.