Acquired Brain Injury Program

The Brain Injury Program (BIP) is an island wide community based program that provides services to assist in the regaining, improving, or maintaining function and/or independence for adults with acquired brain injury.

Brain Injury Program Services:

• Services are subject to availability and are voluntary
• BIP determines if an applicant is eligible for any service
• There could be a fee associated with residential services

Services fall into two broad categories: Community Services and Community Residential Services, explained below.

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Community Services

TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTS

Short term community supports that work with an individual to address activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and behavioural support needs by implementing compensatory strategies in a community setting.

• Maximum duration of 26 weeks
• Maximum eight hours of support per week
• Does not provide sustained intervention

OUTREACH SUPPORTS

Longer term community supports that work with an individual by providing task specific sustained intervention in a community setting to maintain current stability.

• Maximum 11 support hours per month
• Task specific support only - eg. facilitation of medical appointments, twice a month grocery shopping, assistance with medication renewal

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Community Residential Services

The Brain Injury Program has limited residential resources that provide accommodation supports in an abstinence-based setting. These supports are delivered in a variety of settings: transitional supported apartments and group living situations located in communities across Island Health. The type and level of support varies in these resources and is further defined in the descriptions below. Please note none of the resources have secured or locked environments.

All community residential supports generally run at capacity, any questions about availability should be directed to the Brain Injury Program: 250-519-5299

TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTED APARTMENTS

Located in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River, these are short-term supported living environments in individual apartments, including market rental apartments, with a focus on acquiring practical skills and regaining function to transition to independent living.

• Maximum of three years
• No overnight support
• Daytime access to support
• Skill development in ADLs, IADLs and behavioural support
• Community connection
• Gender non-specific

Group Living Resource - Victoria

A longer term, structured residential home-like environment that provides support with a focus on maximizing cognitive, physical and social recovery in partnership with community programs.

• Individual rooms with shared common areas
• Overnight awake support
• 24/7 support
• Meals prepared
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and behavioural support
• Community access
• Gender specific - male only

Group Living Resource - Nanaimo

A longer term, structured cluster of homes that provide support with a focus on maximizing cognitive, physical and social recovery, in partnership with community programs.

• Individual rooms in cluster residences with shared common areas
• Overnight access to support
• 24/7 support on site
• Meals prepared
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and behavioural support
• Community access
• Gender specific - male only

All resources have policies that must be adhered to by residents, for example, no substance use and no violence. All resources reserve the right to decline potential residents if deemed inappropriate by the prospective resource.

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Applying for Service

General Eligibility Criteria

1. Be 19 years of age and older
2. Diagnosis or medical evidence of an acquired brain injury after birth (e.g. CT Scan, MRI report, neurological or physiatrist's report)
3. Live within the boundaries of Island Health and meet residency requirements as defined by Community Health Services
4. No or limited funding or access to services from other sources such as - ICBC, WorkSafe, Crime Victims Assistance Program, Veteran's Affairs, etc.

In addition to the above general criteria, certain programs within the Brain Injury Program have additional eligibility requirements.

Admission Criteria

1. Applicant must consent to receive services
2. Complete Application Package with required documents and reports submitted
3. Potential to benefit from services (as determined by the Brain Injury Program)

How to Apply

Download the following application form, including the application checklist on the first page, and mail or fax it to our office. You may also wish to make a copy of the application checklist to use as a self-help tool. It is advisable to keep a copy of the application being sent in for your records.

Brain Injury Program Application

Mail or Fax to:

Island Health, Brain Injury Program
307A - 1450 Hillside Ave
Victoria, B.C.
V8T 2B7

Fax: 250-519-5258

If there are questions about eligibility or if you have questions regarding whether these services fit your client's needs, please call the Brain Injury Program office at 250-519-5299 with your inquiry prior to filling out the application.

Once you have sent in the application

You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail indicating the Brain Injury Program has received your completed application.

Once an application has been deemed eligible by the Brain Injury Program it will be reviewed to determine if there is a suitable service we can offer to the client. All services are subject to availability and waitlist prioritization.

If any contact information on the application changes after it has been submitted, please inform the Brain Injury Program.