(Photo credit: BC Urban Mayors Caucus/YouTube)

By Pete McIntyre

Interior Health

First complex care homes to open in Kelowna and Kamloops

Jan 16, 2023 | 2:30 PM

The first complex care housing sites in Kelowna and Kamloops are expected to open in the coming weeks.

The provincially-funded facilities have on-site health care and social supports designed for people who live with significant mental health and addiction and or medical challenges that result in difficulty finding and maintaining housing. The housing will feature 24/7 staff who support residents with comprehensive, person-centred services to meet their needs.

Interior Health (IH) and Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions have committed to 20 total complex care spaces in each community.

“Everyone deserves a home where they can feel safe and live with dignity,” Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions, said. “Complex care housing services opening in Kamloops and Kelowna mean that people with complex mental health and substance use challenges will be able to access housing or maintain their existing housing with additional supports tailored to their individual needs.”

Interior Health’s model in Kelowna and Kamloops will see smaller locations with five to eight suites.

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IH will provide a range of health-care services on site including nursing, occupational therapy and social work. An IH cultural worker (Indigenous) and a peer support worker will join the teams to provide support from a lived experience perspective and offer further supports once the homes are up and running.

“The Complex Care model is new to our region and a first step towards improving the overall health and well-being of vulnerable individuals in Kelowna and Kamloops. This new service ensures residents have direct and ongoing access to services and supports from health teams who know their needs,” Susan Brown, IH president and CEO, said.

A contracted provider, Active Care Youth and Adult Services, will provide life skills training and support, which may include training in activities of daily living for things such as cooking, cleaning and shopping, psychosocial rehabilitation and education, preparation for independent living and support to access education and employment.

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas said the opening of new spaces is a small step in the right direction to help some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens dealing with overlapping conditions including mental health and addictions.

“The City of Kelowna and our neighbouring local government partners have advocated for this type of program for some time and while this is welcome news, the need in Kelowna and the Okanagan region for this type of housing and care is significant,” Dyas said.

Individual placements will be staggered to ensure each new resident has time to become familiar with their surroundings and the care teams supporting them.