Services in British Columbia

Canada's suicide crisis helpline, funded by the Government of Canada and led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Call or text 9-8-8 free of charge, any hour of any day, in English or French, whether you are struggling yourself or worried about someone you love.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call or text 9-8-8 at any hour; free, confidential, and no referral needed.

A Government of Canada helpline offering free counselling and crisis support to all Indigenous people across Canada, 24 hours a day, with culturally grounded Indigenous counsellors. Support is available by phone in English and French, with Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut on request, and by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-855-242-3310 at any hour, or use the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca; no referral needed.

Free one-on-one peer support from The Kidney Foundation of Canada, a registered charity. It matches people living with kidney disease, and their family members, with a trained volunteer who has lived through it themselves, for confidential support by phone.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-866-390-PEER (7337) to speak with a program coordinator, or complete the online request form on the peer support page.

A free stroke recovery program from March of Dimes Canada, a registered charity. An After Stroke coordinator works one-on-one with the survivor and their family, connects them to peer support and support groups, and stays with them from hospital to home and beyond. In-person teams are concentrated in Ontario, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, with phone and online support across the rest of Canada.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the After Stroke Support Line at 1-888-540-6666, email afterstroke@marchofdimes.ca, or complete the online form at afterstroke.ca to be matched with an After Stroke coordinator.

A free Veterans Affairs Canada helpline that connects veterans, former RCMP members, their families and caregivers with a mental health professional at any hour, every day of the year. Callers can receive up to 20 hours of confidential counselling and do not need an existing VAC file.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-800-268-7708 any time, day or night (TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803); no referral or VAC file needed.

The national office of the Alzheimer Society, a registered charity. It is a first point of contact after a dementia diagnosis: staff answer the line Monday to Friday and connect families to the Alzheimer Society in their own province, where local societies deliver the programs such as First Link, support groups and education.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-616-8816, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern, or use the contact form at alzheimer.ca; for dementia programs the national office connects families to their local Alzheimer Society through alzheimer.ca/find.

A program of MedicAlert Foundation Canada, a registered charity, for people living with dementia who may wander or go missing. The subscriber wears a distinctive blue MedicAlert ID, and through the charity's Connect Protect partnership, 9-1-1 dispatchers, police, and paramedics across Canada can pull up the person's health record, wandering history, and caregiver contacts to bring them home safely. This is a charity subscription service, not a government program and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-877-217-7449 to subscribe to Safe & Found, or sign up online at medicalert.ca/safe-and-found; general inquiries 1.800.668.1507, Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm Eastern.

A free phone and email information service from Arthritis Society Canada, a registered charity. Trained volunteers answer questions about arthritis, treatment options and coping day to day, and can connect callers with a Peer Listener for one-on-one emotional support.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-321-1433 and press 2 for the Arthritis Line, Monday to Friday in English or French; you can leave a message any time and they aim to reply within 24 hours.

Income-based drug coverage from the Government of British Columbia that helps families pay for prescription drugs, dispensing fees and some medical supplies. You register once and are covered for life, and the less your household earns the more the plan pays.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Register once online at my.gov.bc.ca/ahdc or call 1-800-663-7100; you must be enrolled in MSP.

The Government of British Columbia's free health information line. Dial 811 any time, day or night, to speak with a registered nurse, and reach dietitians, exercise professionals or an overnight pharmacist at set hours, with translation in more than 130 languages.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Just dial 811 from anywhere in BC; nurses answer 24/7.

A free helpline from the Canadian Cancer Society, a registered charity. Trained information specialists answer questions about cancer, treatments and side effects, and help find support services and community resources near you, Monday to Friday, with an interpreter service for other languages.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-888-939-3333, Monday to Friday, or use live chat or the online form at cancer.ca; interpreters are available for languages other than English and French.

A free, confidential helpline from Diabetes Canada, a registered charity. Staff answer questions about living with diabetes and managing it day to day, share trusted resources and point callers to programs in their province. They do not give medical advice or make appointments.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464), Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, or email info@diabetes.ca; conversations are confidential.

A free, confidential information and referral line from Parkinson Canada, a registered charity. Staff give one-on-one help with questions about symptoms, medications and treatment options, and connect people with Parkinson's, their families and care partners to support groups and services in their community.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-565-3000 or email info@parkinson.ca, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern; the contact page also lists 1-888-664-1974 and support@parkinson.ca for Parkinson's information.

Non-medical home support funded by the Government of BC and managed by United Way British Columbia. Local community agencies offer light housekeeping, grocery shopping, rides to appointments, friendly visits, yard work and snow shovelling so seniors can keep living at home.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Find your local Better at Home program with the map at betterathome.ca and contact it directly; the provincial office is 604-268-1312.

A Veterans Affairs Canada program that pays for housekeeping, grounds maintenance, meal preparation, personal care and other supports so veterans can keep living in their own homes. Some survivors and primary caregivers of deceased veterans can also receive housekeeping and grounds maintenance funding.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, or apply online through My VAC Account.

A BC Housing program, formerly called HAFI, that gives lower-income homeowners and renters rebates for accessibility adaptations such as grab bars, ramps, stair rails and walk-in showers. Applications are taken first come, first served, and funding renews every April 1.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Download the homeowner or tenant application from BC Housing or call 1-800-257-7756; submit through the program upload form.

A Government of British Columbia refundable tax credit of up to $1,000 a year for people 65 and over, and for persons with disabilities, who renovate their home to make it safer or easier to get around. It returns 10 percent of eligible renovation costs, up to $10,000 in expenses a year.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Claim it on your income tax return using Schedule BC(S12); call 1-877-387-3332 with questions.

A Government of British Columbia grant that lowers the annual property tax bill on your principal home, with a higher grant amount for owners aged 65 and over. You apply again each year after your tax notice arrives.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply each year online or by phone at 1-888-355-2700 once you get your property tax notice.

A BC Housing program that pays monthly cash toward rent for British Columbians aged 60 and over whose rent takes more than 30 percent of their income. The province funds it so lower-income seniors can stay in their own rental homes.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Download the application from BC Housing or call 1-800-257-7756; submit by online upload, mail, fax or in person.

An independent office of the BC provincial government that watches over seniors services and runs a toll-free information line. Senior service specialists help seniors and family caregivers find the right programs and work through problems with health care, housing, income and transportation.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Call 1-877-952-3181, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

An automatic monthly top-up from the Government of British Columbia for low-income seniors who receive Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. There is no application; payments start on their own about a month after your federal benefits begin.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. No application needed; payment is automatic for eligible seniors. Call 1-866-866-0800 with questions.

A Government of British Columbia loan program that lets homeowners aged 55 and over put off paying their annual property taxes until the home is sold or transferred. The province pays the tax bill for you and charges low interest on the balance.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply and renew online through eTaxBC; call 1-888-355-2700 for help.

A free Government of Canada online tool that asks a few quick questions and builds a personal list of federal benefits, with filters for seniors and retirees aged 60 and over and for caregivers. It needs no account or personal identifying information, and it links to your province's own benefits page too.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Use the tool online at benefitsfinder.services.gc.ca; for general help with federal programs call 1 800 O-Canada at 1-800-622-6232.

Canada Revenue Agency credits that cut the tax bill for seniors and the relatives who support them, all claimed on the yearly tax return. They include the age amount for people 65 and older, pension income splitting with a spouse, the medical expense credit that covers attendant care and many home health costs, the Canada Caregiver Credit, the Home Accessibility Tax Credit for up to $20,000 a year of safety renovations, and the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, which refunds 14.5% of up to $50,000 spent adding a secondary suite for a senior.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Claim these credits when filing the yearly income tax return, or ask a tax preparer or free tax clinic to check each one; call the CRA with questions.

A Government of Canada tax credit that lowers income tax for people with a severe, long-term impairment, or for the family member who supports them. Long-term conditions that affect everyday life, such as dementia, may qualify. Once approved, the credit can be claimed for past years going back up to 10 years, which can mean a large refund.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply using the CRA's digital DTC application or Form T2201 by mail; a medical practitioner completes the medical part, then the credit is claimed at tax time.

A tax-free Government of Canada payment every three months for people with low and modest incomes, which replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026 with a 25% higher amount. There is no application; filing your tax return each year, even with no income, automatically signs you up if you qualify.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. File a tax return every year to be enrolled automatically; call 1-800-387-1193 with payment questions.

Free tax clinics supported by the Canada Revenue Agency, where trained community volunteers complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation. Filing every year is what keeps benefits like the Guaranteed Income Supplement flowing, so these clinics matter even when no tax is owed. In Quebec the program runs jointly with Revenu Quebec as the Income Tax Assistance volunteer program.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Find a nearby clinic with the Find a free tax clinic directory on canada.ca; clinic types and dates vary by community organization.

Tax-free monthly Government of Canada payments for people aged 60 to 64 with low income. The Allowance is for the spouse or common-law partner of a senior who gets the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Allowance for the Survivor is for someone whose spouse or partner has died. Apply 6 to 11 months before you turn 60, or right away if you are already in this age range.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply; call Service Canada or apply through My Service Canada Account.

A monthly taxable Government of Canada pension that replaces part of your income in retirement and is paid for life to people who contributed to the CPP while working. You can start it as early as 60 or wait until 70 for a larger amount. If you keep working while collecting before age 70, extra contributions earn a post-retirement benefit that raises your pension each year.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply; apply online through My Service Canada Account or call. If you worked in another country, international social security agreements may help you qualify.

A monthly taxable Government of Canada benefit for people over 18 and under 65 who cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability and who contributed to the CPP. People already collecting a CPP retirement pension who become disabled before 65 may qualify for the post-retirement disability benefit instead. At 65 it converts automatically to the regular CPP retirement pension.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply, and a health care professional completes the medical part of the application; apply through My Service Canada Account or by paper form.

Government of Canada payments to the family of a CPP contributor who has died. The survivor's pension is a monthly payment to the legal spouse or common-law partner, and the death benefit is a one-time payment of up to $5,000 to the estate or the person who paid the funeral costs. Apply as soon as possible after the death, because the survivor's pension can only be back-paid for 12 months.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or by mail as soon as possible after the death.

Employment Insurance benefits from the Government of Canada that replace part of your pay while you are away from work caring for someone. The family caregiver benefit covers up to 15 weeks for a critically ill or injured adult, and compassionate care benefits cover up to 26 weeks for a person who needs end-of-life care. You do not have to live with or be related to the person, and eligible caregivers can share the weeks.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online at canada.ca as soon as you stop work, with a medical certificate for the person you care for; call 1-800-206-7218 for help with a claim.

A tax-free monthly top-up from the Government of Canada for seniors 65 and older who receive the OAS pension and have low income. It is worth checking even if you are not sure you qualify, and you must file your income tax return every year to keep the payments coming.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and told by letter; if no letter has arrived a month after your 64th birthday, call Service Canada or apply through My Service Canada Account.

A monthly Government of Canada pension for people 65 and older, based on how long you have lived in Canada after age 18, whether or not you ever worked. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and get a letter from Service Canada; if no letter has arrived a month after your 64th birthday, you may need to apply. Years spent in countries that have a social security agreement with Canada can help you qualify.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call Service Canada or apply online through My Service Canada Account; many seniors are enrolled in OAS and GIS automatically and get a letter in the mail around their 64th birthday.

A Government of British Columbia PharmaCare plan for people who choose to receive end-of-life care at home. It covers 100 percent of palliative medications on the Plan P list, and medical supplies and equipment come through your health authority.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Your doctor or nurse practitioner registers you; coverage is usually in place within a day. PharmaCare questions: 1-800-663-7100.

A Government of British Columbia program that sells a subsidized annual transit pass to low-income seniors, including those receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement or its Allowances. The pass costs $45 for the year and works on BC Transit and TransLink services.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply online at myselfserve.gov.bc.ca/BusPass or call 1-866-866-0800, Monday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm.

The Government of Canada's central fraud reporting service, jointly managed by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau. Seniors and families can call to report a scam, check whether a call or offer is genuine, and learn what to do after money or personal information has been taken.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-888-495-8501, Monday to Friday 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern time, or report a scam online any time through the reporting system at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.

A Government of Canada benefit, administered by Sun Life, that pays much of the cost of dental care for people without private dental insurance, including cleanings, fillings, x-rays and dentures. Seniors of any age qualify if the household income is under $90,000, last year's taxes are filed, and they live in Canada. Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit year are open.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or Canada.ca, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262); a trusted helper can apply with the senior on the line to give consent.

A registered charity that helps Canadians who are blind or partially sighted use accessible technology, through free group and one-to-one training, smartphone apps, and devices like a free smartphone for registered clients. This is a national charity program, not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call the national line or fill out the online contact form at cnib.ca to reach a CNIB program coordinator, who can register you and connect you to programs like Tech and Peer Support, or point you to a referral for vision loss rehabilitation training.

The Canadian Red Cross, a registered charity, lends wheelchairs, walkers, bath seats, commodes, and other home health equipment across British Columbia, usually for about three months while someone recovers or receives palliative care at home. This is a charity service run with the province's health authorities, not a government office and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. A referral from a doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, or chiropractor is required; call the regional HELP line to arrange the loan.

A free information line from Osteoporosis Canada, a registered charity. Trained volunteer counsellors answer questions about bone health, osteoporosis and preventing broken bones, send helpful information and point callers to resources near them. A good call after a fracture or a fall risk warning.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the toll-free information line at 1-800-463-6842 (in Canada only) and leave a message if no one picks up; a trained volunteer counsellor will help.

Trained Red Cross volunteers call people age 18 and up on a regular basis just to check in, talk, and share wellbeing resources, an easy way to feel less alone. It is free and available by phone anywhere in Canada, including every city in the GTA. The Canadian Red Cross is a federally chartered registered charity, and this is a public community support service, not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. There is no single phone number across these programs. Families call the specific line: Toronto Transportation and Meals on Wheels at 416-236-3180, Burlington Transportation at 1-844-843-7331 ext 2, Burlington Meals on Wheels at 905-637-5664, or the national Friendly Calls Program at 1-833-979-9779.

St. John Ambulance, one of Canada's oldest registered charities, sends volunteer handlers and their gentle, screened dogs into seniors residences, care facilities, and hospitals for regular visits that ease loneliness and lift spirits. Over 2,500 dog teams volunteer across Canada, and there is one national online form to request visits for a facility or event. This is a charity program, not a government service and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. A seniors residence, care facility, or event organizer requests visits through the national online request form linked from the Therapy Dog Program page, or calls 1-800-989-3787; visits are then arranged with the local volunteer dog teams.

A registered national charity that helps families put end-of-life wishes in writing and understand their legal options. It offers free downloadable Advance Care Planning kits for every province, a support team that answers questions about end-of-life rights and medical assistance in dying, and trained volunteers who serve as the independent witness the law requires on a MAID request, including by video call. This is a charity, not a government agency and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the Support Team at 1-844-395-3640 or email support@dyingwithdignity.ca for end-of-life questions; request an independent witness through the online form, and download free province-specific Advance Care Planning kits from the website.

A Veterans Affairs Canada program, delivered by the nonprofit Last Post Fund, that helps pay funeral, burial and grave marker costs so eligible veterans receive a dignified funeral. Families apply through the Last Post Fund within one year of the veteran's death.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call the Last Post Fund at 1-800-465-7113 to apply; applications must be submitted within one year of the veteran's death.

A Government of Canada program that helps pay nursing home costs for veterans who need 24-hour personal and nursing care. The veteran pays a capped monthly amount toward room and meals, currently $1,236.90, and Veterans Affairs Canada helps with eligible care costs beyond that.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. The veteran must first be admitted to a long-term care home, then the family applies through My VAC Account online or mails application package VAC1503APe; call 1-866-522-2122 for help.