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From left: Betty Liang (S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Integrated Community Services for Seniors project lead), Coun. Linda McPhail, Coun. Bill McNulty, Dr. Kendall Ho (University of British Columbia professor of digital emergency medicine), Dr. Maria Chung (S.U.C.C.E.S.S. board member), Queenie Choo, (S.U.C.C.E.S.S. chief executive officer), Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Coun. Michael Wolfe, Terry Liu (S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation board member), Rebecca Clapperton Law (S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Board Member), Sinder Kaur (executive director, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care for Seniors).

Photo courtesy S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Pilot project for seniors launches in Richmond

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 4:04 PDT, Wed September 21, 2022

Last Updated: 10:48 PDT, Mon October 3, 2022

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Chinese seniors in Richmond will benefit from improved community connections, health, and wellness with the help of a new community connector program piloted by Vancouver Coastal Health and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Integrated Community Services for Seniors project will create a hub to help Chinese seniors age well at home by connecting them to community information on health and social services in Richmond. This ensures older adults aged 65-plus can access the right service at the right time.

“S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is always looking for new ways to bring access to culturally appropriate care to our communities. It is critical that we directly connect with seniors in a meaningful way in order to reduce their isolation and give them the tools and support to age better in place,” said Queenie Choo, chief executive officer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation.
Bilingual community connectors who speak English and Chinese will be based at S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’ assisted living facility, Austin Harris Residence on Moncton Road in Richmond. They will provide outreach, referrals, and support for seniors who are vulnerable due to frailty, a lack of family physician, language, or cultural barriers, and those who cope with mental health or dementia and who have little access to a caregiver or local support.

“Richmond has an active seniors population and this program will help to improve their quality of life further,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “It will provide important access to services that respect cultural backgrounds, so our seniors will be able to continue to live independently and enjoy connections that keep them well.”

This one-year pilot project community service will assist eligible seniors to coordinate a variety of services: Meals on Wheels, the Better at Home program, home care, health care, dementia care, palliative care, housing, assisted living and long term care, settlement services, transportation, socialization and adult day programs, chronic disease and medication management, mental health and wellness supports, and more.

“The inter-Cultural Online health Network (iCON) of the UBC Digital Emergency Medicine Unit congratulates S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in spearheading this innovative pilot program,” said Dr. Kendall Ho, executive director of iCON and professor of emergency medicine at the University of British Columbia. “We welcome our ongoing and fruitful collaboration with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in serving our Richmond Chinese seniors to support their health and wellness.”

To learn more about this program or to refer a senior, contact Betty Liang at betty.liang@success.bc.ca or call 604-241-8222.