Browse Categories: End of Life, Dementia & Caregiving

Support and information for people living with dementia and their family members or caregivers. The First Link program connects people early to education, support groups, and care planning after a diagnosis. Staff help families understand what to expect, plan for future care needs, and connect with medical and community services. Services are free. Contact by phone or visit the Vancouver office.

Family Caregivers of BC supports people who are caring for loved ones with health challenges such as dementia, disability, or chronic illness. Their Caregiver Support Line offers practical guidance, emotional support, and help navigating complex care systems. They provide education, coaching, and resources to help caregivers manage stress, plan for care needs, and find local services. While based in Victoria, their support line assists caregivers throughout Vancouver and the province.

First Link Dementia Support connects people living with dementia and their caregivers to information, education, support groups, and local services. The program helps families understand a diagnosis, plan for care, and navigate available supports. Contact the Alzheimer Society of BC to access the program. Cantonese and Mandarin: 1-833-674-5007 (Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm) Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu: 1-833-674-5003 (Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm)

Vancouver Hospice Society supports people with a life-limiting illness and their families in Vancouver. Residential hospice care at Granville Hospice and Cottage Hospice is arranged through a referral from Vancouver Coastal Health's Palliative Access Line (604-263-7255), not by calling the Society directly. Trained volunteers also visit people living at home near the end of life. Grief support, including individual counselling, bereavement groups, and a walking group, is open to anyone who calls the Society's main office at 604-737-7305 to ask about availability.

Helps eligible patients with life-limiting illnesses receive medications, medical supplies, and equipment at little or no cost while receiving palliative care at home or in hospice. Coverage includes many end-of-life medications through BC PharmaCare and equipment provided through the local health authority. Enrollment must be initiated by a physician or nurse practitioner, who completes and submits the registration form once palliative care eligibility is confirmed (typically when life expectancy is about six months or less). This resource is listed to help patients and families be aware of the program and discuss it with their healthcare provider if palliative care support is needed.

Provincial government office that protects the legal, financial, personal, and healthcare interests of adults who cannot manage their own affairs, and administers the estates of people who have died or gone missing. Free service. Seniors, families, and concerned individuals can call, visit in person, or refer online. Main line 604-660-4444, with a toll-free Adult Services line. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, with healthcare consent services also available weekends and holidays 8am-12pm.

Free legal help from Seniors First BC for people age 55 and older in BC, covering wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, adult guardianship, and other legal matters older adults face, but not family or criminal law. Eligibility depends on income and assets, assessed at intake. Appointments run at the Seniors First BC office in Downtown Vancouver on weekdays, plus monthly outreach clinics in Surrey, Burnaby, and at QMUNITY. Call the Seniors Abuse and Information Line at 604-437-1940 or 1-866-437-1940, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, to book.

Adult Day Programs give older adults with physical or cognitive challenges, including dementia, a supervised day program one or two days a week so they can keep living at home. Programs run on weekdays, usually 10am to 2pm, with lunch, snacks, health checks, and social and recreational activities, at locations across Vancouver. The cost is a subsidized ten dollars per day. Call the Vancouver Home and Community Care Access Line at 604-263-7377, daily 8:30am-6pm, for an assessment and referral.

Provides free, confidential support for people experiencing grief after the loss of a loved one. Offers a listening ear, emotional support, and guidance on coping with loss, as well as information about grief and referrals to local support services. Available by phone and online.

Kits House’s second building for seniors, at 8th Avenue and Vine Street, just down the street from the main house. People 55 and older can drop in to talk to staff about local services and get a referral, with no appointment needed. A monthly Family and Friend Care Partner support group for people caring for an older adult also meets here (register with Braelyn at braelynd@kitshouse.org). Free, Kits House membership required.

Vancouver Coastal Health runs an Assisted Dying Program that gives information, eligibility assessment, and support for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Vancouver, Richmond, and the North Shore. People can ask their own health-care team about MAiD or contact the program directly. The program can also point people to other end-of-life options such as palliative care and advance care planning. Call 1-844-550-5556 or email AssistedDying@vch.ca. Office hours are not posted online.

Information and self-help resources for personal planning in British Columbia, including Representation Agreements and advance care planning documents that let someone choose who makes health, personal, or financial decisions if they cannot. Free Representation Agreement forms and guides are available on the website, along with a secure registry to store completed documents. Call 604-408-7414 (a recording gives directions to the right resource) or email info@nidus.ca. No in-person office. Phone and online only.

Providence Health Care provides palliative and end-of-life care through St. Paul’s Hospital, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, and community programs across Vancouver. Palliative care focuses on comfort, symptom management, and support for people living with serious or life-limiting illness. The self-referral number connects to a Point-of-Contact (POC) line at St. Paul’s Hospital, where a palliative triage nurse can speak with patients, caregivers, or family members about symptoms, care needs, and possible referrals to hospice, hospital, or community palliative services. This service helps individuals and loved ones navigate care options and access appropriate support during serious illness and end-of-life situations.

Trust administration service run by Coast Mental Health, mainly for people with a mental illness who need help managing money such as an inheritance or other lump sum without losing Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits. Coast is authorized to manage trusts up to $500,000 and may consider people with other disabilities in some cases. Call to ask about eligibility and how to set up a trust.

Private home care agency providing in-home support for seniors in Metro Vancouver, including Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, and other nearby areas. Offers personal care, 24/7 live-in care, dementia and Alzheimer care, overnight care, post-surgery recovery, palliative and hospice support, and medication reminders. Fee-for-service. A free in-home assessment is available before care starts. Call the phone line, available 24/7, or request an assessment through the website.

Provincial registry of licensed assisted living residences in British Columbia, for seniors and families choosing a residence. Call to confirm a residence is registered, or to make a complaint about the health or safety of a resident, including suspected abuse or neglect. Free, toll-free phone service.

Free phone line for grandparents and other relatives raising a related child, such as a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other family member. Advocates help callers understand legal rights and options, and connect them to benefits, resources, and legal information. Call 604-558-4740 in the Lower Mainland, or 1-855-474-9777 toll-free from anywhere in BC.