With more people self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic, some seniors who normally live independently with the help of family and friends are now finding those supports unavailable and may require more community supports to remain safely connected and engaged.
The Province of British Columbia and United Way of the Lower Mainland are expanding services to meet the critical needs of seniors affected by this crisis through the delivery of essential non-medical services, including those preventing social isolation, while still social distancing. Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives is designated as one of 24 COVID-19 Response Hubs for seniors. Below is the list of services we currently offer.
To register for any of the following services, or to request more information, call 604-279-7020.
For older adults and their families, we offer a free, multilingual information & referral service, called Seniors Community Connections. Our trained volunteers can help clients access a wide range of community resources, whether related to housing, healthcare, transportation, government benefits, or another area where clients have questions or need support.
Beyond providing information, volunteers can assist with completing government forms and filing basic tax returns.
Information & referral sessions are held at our office in the Richmond Caring Place, located at 190 - 7000 Minoru Boulevard. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at 604-279-7020 or email info@rcrg.org.
Our Transportation service is back up and running on a limited basis. Currently, seniors are able to request rides within Richmond, with priority being given to medical appointments. All trips will be completed in RCRG's agency vehicle - an SUV that has a plexiglass barrier between the front and back seats. Clients must be able to transfer independently in and out of the vehicle, to minimize contact with our volunteer drivers. The fee is based on a client's income. Currently we are taking a waiting list for this service.
Seniors who have scheduled their COVID-19 vaccine may use our Transportation service to get to and from their appointment. Rides will depend on the availability of our volunteer drivers, but we'll do our best to accommodate all requests.
Visit Vancouver Coastal Health's website for vaccine eligibility information. Once your age cohort is eligible, call 1-877-587-5767 to schedule your appointment.
Designed to support seniors in Richmond to remain independent and connected to their community. Virtual Friendly Visiting is non-medical in nature and is not a counselling service. Visits occur once a week on the phone, Facetime, Zoom, Skype, etc. Duration of call depends on client and volunteer.
Clients, or friends/family members on their behalf, can provide their grocery order through phone, e-mail, or fax to an RCRG staff member or Volunteer Phoner.
Groceries are shopped at:
- Seafair Safeway 8671 No 1 Road – every Tuesday and Thursday
- PriceSmart Foods 8200 Ackroyd Road – every Wednesday
- Delivery Time: 11 AM onwards
Clients must provide their grocery order at least 1-2 days in advance and before 2 PM, with detailed information about the brand name, size, flavour, etc. Ice cream is not included for food safe reasons.
Clients must provide credit card information or store gift card for payment of groceries.
Offered in partnership with professional contractors, this service helps seniors maintain safe and healthy homes. The fee is charged on a sliding scale, based on a client's annual household income. There is currently a waiting list for subsidized services.
Delivery is made every Thursday bi-weekly, orders need to be submitted the Tuesday before, by 2PM.. The cost is $5.50 per meal. Clients must order a minimum of 5 meals.
Please call 604-279-7020 or e-mail CDickson@rcrg.org for the menu. Clients must provide credit card information for payment of meals.
Clients should first check with their pharmacy to see if delivery service is available. If not, they can contact us for assistance. Clients need to have ordered and paid for their prescription before we can arrange for pick-up/delivery. Please give us advance notice for pick-up of your prescription.
This free, one-on-one service for Richmond seniors is available in multiple languages. Senior Peer Counselling is a province-wide program premised on the belief that older adults prefer speaking with fellow seniors, who may have similar life experiences.
Counsellors complete a 44-hour training program before they're affiliated with Senior Peer Counselling of BC and begin seeing clients.
Sessions can take place over the phone or virtually (via Facetime, Zoom, Skype, or other digital platforms).
The purpose of the Richmond Family & Friend Caregiver Hub is to reduce isolation and encourage healthy aging among local caregivers and to offer support to distance caregivers, by connecting them to the support, information, and services they require.
At this time, caregivers will have access to a range of resources such as one-to-one emotional support, peer support, information and referral, and other services. We are also working on ways to continue offering educational workshops and online resources to make it easier for caregivers to participate from their homes.
To ensure that family & friend caregivers have access to the support they need to care for an older adult living in our community, please contact the Richmond Family & Friend Caregiver Hub at 604-279-7099 or caregivernavigator@rcrg.org.
The 2022-23 edition of the Richmond Seniors Directory is here! Published by RCRG in partnership with the Richmond News, this free resource for older adults lists hundreds of community programs and services, covering health, recreation, transportation, and more.
Printed copies are available at our office in the Richmond Caring Place, at the Minoru Centre for Active Living, and at many other locations throughout the community. You can also read the entire Directory online!
Elder abuse takes many forms, and often happens out of public view. Victims seldom report it, for reasons that are entirely understandable. In cases of physical abuse, they might be scared. If they've been targeted by a financial scam, they might be embarrassed. Above all, they simply might not know where to turn, or that support even exists.
With funding from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program, we've taken an important step in shedding light on elder abuse. Working with a team of volunteers - all older adults themselves - we've developed an Elder Abuse Tip Sheet, available in both English and Chinese.
The document identifies different types of elder abuse, and lists phone numbers that seniors can call if they need support. There's also a section on safety, outlining what seniors can do to avoid identify theft, financial fraud, and other crimes.
A digital version of the Tip Sheet can be downloaded below, while printed copies are available at our office.
Elder Abuse Tip Sheet (English) | Elder Abuse Tip Sheet (Chinese)
RCRG is one of Richmond’s largest providers of seniors’ services.
It starts with Information & Referral, where our trained volunteers help seniors and their families find information on everything from housing to government pensions to the BC Medical Services Plan. Our I & R service is completely free of charge, and available in multiple languages. Funding is provided by Vancouver Coastal Health.
Next up is Grocery Shopping. There are different variations of this service, depending on a client's particular needs, but the general idea is always the same: if a senior, due to health or mobility issues, can no longer shop for themselves, we'll do it for them, and even deliver their groceries! This allows seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Our Grocery Shopping services are co-funded by Vancouver Coastal Health and the Province of British Columbia, through the Better at Home program.
Finally, in our Senior Peer Counselling program, trained volunteers - all seniors themselves - help guide older adults through times of emotional distress.
Please call 604-279-7020 to:
1) Schedule an Information & Referral appointment
2) Find out more about our Grocery Shopping services
3) Get further information on the Senior Peer Counselling program
Funded by the Government of British Columbia and managed by the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Better at Home program exists to reduce isolation, enhance mobility, and support independence among BC’s multicultural seniors population.
As Richmond’s Better at Home lead agency, RCRG offers transportation, friendly visiting, light housekeeping, and grocery shopping services. With these supports in place, seniors can choose to remain in their homes and still stay connected to the community.
Please call 604-279-7021 to:
1) Register for Richmond Better at Home services
2) Schedule a Richmond Better at Home service
3) Cancel a Richmond Better at Home service
4) Request additional information
Better at Home is funded by the Government of British Columbia and managed by the United Way.
The Richmond Family & Friend Caregiver Hub was created to promote the health and well-being of those who provide unpaid care to an older adult, be it a spouse, family member, friend, or neighbour.
Through the Hub, caregivers can access peer support, recreational and educational workshops, online resources, and a range of other services.
For more information, we encourage you to visit the Caregiver Hub's newly launched website, which features a ton of content - all with a local focus - that will support you on your caregiving journey.
• Seniors Community Support Services Brochure: English | Chinese