Funding for Volunteer Services helping Seniors

The second issue that I think is important and have not addressed is the issue of how programs which help seniors are funded. Any seniors, as well as others in society and in government, believe that seniors and society would be well serviced by seniors living at home. The home support program and the report into those services 19-June-19 show there is a need for more and better services for many seniors. The report was thorough but did not address the issue of those who are supporting the non-medical needs of older adults in BC. Those who volunteer to help seniors stay at home by providing services such as Friendly visiting Transportation, Light yard work, minor home repairs, Light housekeeping, Grocery shopping, etc. 

     Where I live we have programs like, Better at Home, Seniors Transportation Access and Resources (STAR), Meals on Wheels and some communities such as Richmond have their Seniors Community Support Services programs. All of these are great programs but are reliant on funding from Charity groups such as United Way or government grants to operate. The charities and the government funders are always looking at the most efficient and cost-saving way to deliver services. This means that many organizations who could provide the services may lose funding if another organization says they can provide the same service at a lower cost. 

     This change of service provider causes a chain reaction where recipients of the service have to adjust to new demands or changes in procedure and many volunteers who worked with the small group may decide to not work with another group, so new volunteers need to be recruited. This causes a disruption in service for seniors. I think it is a problem that is important because these volunteer programs make it easier for seniors to stay at home and supplement the home support programs but how they are funded and the effect of a change of funder or service provider on seniors receiving the service is ignored when we talk about this issue.