Meeting the Needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Seniors: WIDHH Better at Home Project
The “WIDDH Better at Home Project” will provide transportation and friendly visiting services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) seniors and assist them in living independently in their homes and communities.
United Way’s Better at Home program has embarked on a one year project with the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH) to assess the emerging needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) seniors’ population, and provide services in a linguistically and culturally accessible format to these seniors living in the Lower Mainland.
Deaf and HoH seniors have unique linguistic and cultural challenges, such as not having full communication access to mainstream programs, services and information provided by Government, community service organizations and/or agencies.
The “WIDDH Better at Home Project” will aim to close these gaps by providing transportation and friendly visiting services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) seniors, and assist them in living independently in their homes and communities.
For contact information, please visit WIDDH Better at Home Project.
$5 million to support senior’s independence
On Friday, June 10 in Kamloops, B.C.’s Health Minister Terry Lake announced an additional $5 million in funding for United Way’s Better at Home program. This funding will provide increased supports for seniors to remain independent in their homes and communities.
“Seniors have told us that it is important that they are able to stay at home for as long as possible and not have to move just because they need a little assistance around the house,” said Lake. “Better at Home reflects our commitment to strengthening home and community supports.”
Including this announcement, the provincial government invested a total of $31 million in Better at Home since 2012.
“Being connected and engaged with others is directly related to seniors’ health”, said United Way of the Lower Mainland President and CEO Michael McKnight. “Better at Home serves as a lifeline to seniors across the province.”
Better at Home is funded by the Government of BC, managed by the United Way of the Lower Mainland and operates in 67 programs across the province.
The announcement was made at a seniors’ symposium hosted by ONCORE, Better at Home’s service provider in Kamloops.
For more details: please visit UWLM News