Serving Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, and Ladysmith!
Funded by:
The Better at Home program is dedicated to helping seniors maintain their independence and live comfortably in their own homes by offering simple non-medical home support services. This provincially-funded initiative, managed by the United Way of the Lower Mainland, has been operated by the Nanaimo Family Life Association for over 10 years.
Available to seniors in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, and Gabriola Island, the program provides services such as light housekeeping, transportation, grocery shopping, and companionship. These services are tailored to meet each individual’s needs, empowering seniors to live on their own terms. All service providers are carefully screened to ensure professionalism and safety, giving clients confidence in the support they receive.
Service fees are based on a sliding scale, with subsidies available for low-income seniors, ensuring financial concerns don’t prevent access to the help they need. Services are offered on a regular, non-urgent basis.
Better at Home goes beyond offering practical assistance. It’s about supporting seniors’ well-being, fostering independence, and helping them continue to thrive in the communities they love, so they can live life to the fullest in the comfort of their own homes.
Please fill out the referral form to be placed on the waitlist or give us a call.
Services Provided:
Light Housekeeping—Services include surface cleaning tasks such as floors, kitchens, and bathrooms, vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, cleaning out and organizing the fridge, emptying garbage/recycling/compost, and emptying the dishwasher. We can also assist with laundry and changing bedding. We do not provide heavy or deep cleaning services (spring cleaning or move outs), such as washing windows or walls, carpet cleaning, cleaning the oven, moving heavy furniture or pet clean-up. Clients are to provide supplies required.
Light Yard Work (Ladysmith/Gabriola only): Services include light yardwork such as weeding and watering garden beds, assisting with flower planters/ports, trimming small trees/bushes, raking leaves, and some lawn maintenance. Other potential services may included wood chopping/piling for Gabriola residents. Examples of services not provided include cutting down of overgrown lawns, trimming blackberry bushes, landscaping, rodent removal, cleaning gutters or power washing. Clients are to provide safe working equipment.
Transportation— Services for seniors to/from medical and non-medical appointments. This service is based upon volunteer availability and must be arranged the week prior to the appointment. Examples of non-medical requests may include going to the grocery store or to visit a family member. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide transportation for persons who use wheelchairs or rely on oxygen tanks.
Click here to fill out a referral form.
To fill out a form over the phone, please call:
Luke Peterson
General Program Assistant
250-754-3331 ext. 276
Once completed, please send forms to Email: generalprogramassistant@nflabc.org
For more information about NFLA Better at Home, please contact:
Angela Turnbull
Better at Home Coordinator
Phone: 250 754-3331 (ext. 203)
Email: a_turnbull@nflabc.org
Maria Cerna
Better at Home Transportation & Food Security Programs Coordinator
Phone: 250 754-3331 (ext. 202)
Email: m_cerna@nflabc.org
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