West Coast Independent Living

11/14/2022

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/disability-rights-vicky-levack-independent-living-apartment-1.6639119?fbclid=IwAR0ku31Vqo-J9idJhi0EUUFFLXC3r-T3jaUmwQlpaMinVPTArB8tCuSS-dohttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/disability-rights-vicky-levack-independent-living-apartment-1.6639119?fbclid=IwAR0ku31Vqo-J9idJhi0EUUFFLXC3r-T3jaUmwQlpaMinVPTArB8tCuSS-do

After years of advocacy and a lawsuit against the province, Vicky Levack is thrilled to finally be moving out of a nursing home and into an apartment.

12/03/2021

11/29/2021

West Coast Independent Living provides wheelchair accessible accommodation and personal care for adults with physical disabilities who want to maintain their independence.

10/04/2016

My car is my mobility aid. But parking spaces I depend on keep disappearing.

05/12/2012

HOUSING AND SHARED CARE APPLICATION FORM

WEST COAST INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD.
#309 Blackberry Drive, Victoria, BC V8X 5J3
E-mail: westcoastindependentliving@gmail.com Fax: (250) 727-9154

Name:

Address: Postal Code:

Phone: Cell: Message:

Please describe the nature of your disability:



Do you use a wheelchair: Power: Manual:

Do you require a wheel-in shower:

Describe your morning care routine:



Preferred wake-up time: Preferred bedtime:

Describe your routine for going to bed:



What is your routine for toileting:



Do you require assistance with meal preparation(if so, how much):



Do you require assistance with feeding yourself:

Do you require night time assistance: y n If so, how often?

Are you able to shop for groceries? y n

What is your source of funding for care hours:

How many care hours are you currently funded for:

Do you smoke: y n

Do you have a pet: How many and type of pet:

Do you own a vehicle: y n

Your source of income:

Your gross monthly income:

To be considered as a participant in a Shared Care Model, you must understand and agree to the following:

1. I am able to manage my own personal finances.

2. I am able to direct Personal Care Attendants with regards to my care and home making requirements.

3. I am responsible for managing my own medication.

4. I require no more than one person to assist with transfers.

5. I am willing and capable of the cooperative sharing of caregivers and care hours.

6. I am responsible for grocery shopping and maintaining household supplies.

7. I have read, understand and agree with the principles as set out in the “Shared Care, how does it work” handout.

8. I understand that WCIL requires that a client services contract which sets out the use of WCIL's premises and care delivery obligations be signed and dated before move in.

Dated:

Applicants Signature:

04/08/2012

Shared Care – What it is and how it works

Shared care allows a group of like minded individuals to agree that combining their funded care hours to create 24 hours of staff coverage is more beneficial than utilizing their care hours separately. They recognize that the inconvenience of scheduling care as a member of a co operative group is out weighed by the convenience and security of having assistance available 24 hours a day. Participants must be flexible and willing to make the same periodic sacrifices as others within the group.

Shared Care is most beneficial to people with significant physical disabilities who want as much independence as possible. Shared care groups allow such Individuals
to live independently and still call for attendant assistance when needed..

The most likely candidates for this type of care delivery are people who would not receive enough care hours to live safely by themselves. The model suits you if you do not need extended periods of care but need assistance for short periods of time.

In any shared care model each client must understand the economics of how shared care works. Obviously, the participant does not get out in direct care, the hours they are assessed for but in exchange they have access to 24 hour care and a more flexible schedule. There are periods during the day (as much as 12 hours) where staff are not providing direct assistance. The main example is the night shift when most people don’t receive care, but the shift still needs to be paid for. This staff coverage inefficiency is reduced to the largest extent possible by scheduling care routines efficiently. This means people need to have set schedules whenever possible and to make good use of staff time.

There is a responsibility to assist caregivers in scheduling their time. If the caregiver has another call waiting, the general rule is the person requiring the least time goes first, not necessarily the person who called first. Participants are required to be organized when the caregiver arrives, it is not fair to make a caregiver and ultimately your shared care partners wait because you are not ready when the caregiver arrives.

Of course, in order for shared care groups to work, participants must treat caregivers and other shared care members with respect and courtesy.