By Tom Mark

New Health Resources Centre Now Running In Vernon

Jun 4, 2018 | 6:17 AM

A new resource service for people to access health information in Vernon is now up and running.

The John Rudy Health Resource Centre association is providing free drop in service.

That’s every Wednesday from 11 am to 1 pm at the library in Vernon and founder Chantelle Fairbrother says varied help is available.

“A health resource library. So that’s where people can get information on health services and supports, get contact information, find out a little bit about them to see if that’s who they need to be contacting based on their needs.”

There is also assistance in completing health-related paper work or making health-related phone calls and one-to-one support for those needing help finding, reading and understanding health information.

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Chantelle says the response to the service is picking up.

More service providers are calling seeking to make referrals.

She expects as the service grows more seniors will be accessing tgheir help as research shows one in thirty don’t have access to computers.

But more than seniors are turning out.

“Interestingly enough, we thought we would have mainly seniors coming through the door to begin with. And that’s not what we’re seeing. We’re seeing people of all ages coming through the door with all sorts of questions.”

Chantelle notes that finding health-related information can sometimes be a time-consuming and frustrating experience.

And that’s where the John Rudy Centre can help.

“So if somebody’s never been part of needing health services or having to deal with health crisis, it’s just a world that’s unknown and they don’t know where to begin. So those individuals quite often just need the one time, get them started and their off and running.”

Chantelle expects to expand services as funding increases.

The Association has just received a grant through the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan.

That could expand services to additional days, possibly adding other community locations to the current drop-in at the library.

It hopes to add health workshops in the fall.

Requests have come in from various organizations from seniors to cultural groups asking for presentations during some of their regular meetings or day programs.

by Tom Mark