Programs & Resources

Services for Seniors on Salt Spring Island – a spreadsheet will open, or automatically download

Hearing Loss Clinic

We’re excited to offer new Hearing Loss sessions to be led by Deborah Scott, starting in the Fall 2025. The instructor, Deborah Scott is a trained Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) Speech/reading Instructor, and volunteer with the (CHHA) and CHHA-BC. Deborah completed her PhD at Fielding Graduate University in 2014 where her doctoral research examined the best practices of adults with hearing loss who were flourishing. Her study identified that beyond hearing devices, learning the art of speech reading and communication strategies contributed to participants’ capacity to function optimally, lead healthy, productive lives, and make a contribution to society. Upon the completion of her doctorate, Deborah coordinated a Better Hearing Health project committed to improving hearing health for under-served individuals, families, and communities in Jaltemba Bay, Nayarit, Mexico.

Fulford Seniors – AKA The South End Social Club

We have a new website and calendar listing current programming – click here to view. Some programs do close for the summer so check the calendar. While, over the past year, we have focused on what our membership may need, we look forward next year to looking at what we can give back to our community. We all have skills and knowledge worth sharing and access to a facility where we can offer programs that teach those skills – cooking, stitching, crafting, photography …… the opportunities are endless. What is your passion, and would you like to pass it on? We need your ideas and support to implement these options….so let’s hear from you! Contact Valerie at fulfordseniors@gmail.com.

Preserving your family history – Advice from the Salt Spring Archives

The Salt Spring Archives is mandated to preserve the history of Salt Spring Island. Unless you, or your descendants donate your family records to their collection, they will not have that information. Check out their website at www.saltspringarchives.com for examples of other family collections. The Archives is mostly keen on images from 30-50 plus years ago and landmark photos in particular. They would also welcome stories about Salt Spring place names, traditions and memories of how things were in “the old days.” Make sure your family photographs are labelled with people’s names, dates and places. If you can, scan them at resolution 600dpi.

Minimize acidic storage for photos and documents such as letters and certificates. Use non-acidic envelopes and boxes.

Contact: info@saltspringarchives.com

Canada Disability Benefit

The Canada Disability Benefit provides direct financial support to people with disabilities who are between 18 and 64 years old. The program is administered by Service Canada. The first month of eligibility for the Canada Disability Benefit is June 2025. First payments will begin in July 2025 for applications received and approved by June 30, 2025.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/disability/canada-disability-benefit.html

On-Demand Psychiatry Service

Island Health has launched the Virtual On-Demand Urgent Psychiatry service, an innovative program that provides adult emergency patients in five rural and remote community hospitals with evening and weekend access to psychiatric consultation through secure virtual technology, improving timely access to mental health care.

“This service allows us to provide timely psychiatric consultative assessments for patients in their own communities,” said Melanee Szafron, clinical services director for acute mental health and substance use. “It means patients can receive the right care at the right time, closer to home and their support networks.”

The service is referral based and operates from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and statutory holidays. It became fully operational at all five locations on March 31, 2025, serving West Coast General Hospital, Tofino General Hospital, Port Hardy Hospital, Port McNeill Hospital, and Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island.

Six regional psychiatrists rotate weekly to provide the service, bringing expertise from across Vancouver Island. The team includes specialists based in Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and various South Island locations.

The virtual service complements existing mental health resources by filling gaps during times when in- person psychiatric consultations may not be readily available. Emergency department staff use dedicated iPads equipped with the BC Virtual Visit application to facilitate these secure, confidential consultations.

Salt Spring Seniors Centre

Where people care about each other!