Seniors and their families have a new support for resolving health-related issues in British Columbia through the Seniors Health Care Support Line.
Health Minister Michael de Jong says it was a key component of the commitments in the province’s Seniors Action Plan announced on Feb. 14 to establish a single provincial phone line.
It is intended to give seniors and their families a simple way to report concerns about care, have them handled in a respectful and timely fashion and to get the help they need, says De Jong.
"Dealing with B.C.’s intricate health-care system can be confusing. Many seniors do not possess the technical knowledge to navigate the system with computers."
Seniors, who have difficulty accessing health-care services or issues with the health care they received, can now call the Seniors Health Care Support Line toll-free weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-877-952-3181.
Other ways seniors can get help with resolving care concerns include speaking with their health-care provider, contacting the Patient Care Quality offices and independent review boards, health authorities or the relevant health professional colleges.
For information on how to contact these other resources, call HealthLink BC by dialing 8-1-1 (7-1-1 for hearing impaired) any time of the day or night or go online to www.healthlinkbc.ca.
More information on the Seniors Action Plan can be found online at www.SeniorsBC.ca.