Programs/Services » Assisted Independent Living Program

AIL Brochure

Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society provides Assisted Independent Living Services (AIL) to individuals with acquired brain injuries, mental health, developmental and physical disabilities as an approved service provider for the Community Living British Columbia, Fraser Health Acquired Brain Injury Program and Vancouver Coastal Authority.

AIL services is a CARF accredited program that provides individuals with alternative living accommodations and a range of supportive services to suit their personal and physical needs. Our AIL program offers individuals the following types of accommodations:

Family Care Homes

A person receiving services lives with a family or single person in their home in the community. The resident participates in family activities as well as integrated into the community. Residents normally require regular support and supervision.

Semi-independent or Roommate living

A person receiving services lives semi-independently in a roommate type of environment with a caregiver in a house or apartment. Residents are provided meals and may need assistance with medication management, assistance with bill payments, problem solving, making appointments, etc. Residents require a modest level of supervision and support.

Supported Apartment

A person receiving services lives independently in a self-contained living environment in their own apartment. Residents have access to, and receive ongoing support from, care providers who work on site or from community support workers. Residents may need assistance with bill payments, problem solving, making appointments, etc.

The AIL program not only provides accommodations but also helps individuals identify and work towards meeting their identified goals. Some of the support services and programs that the AIL program offers include but are not limited to:

• Assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, bathing, grooming or mobility
• Monitoring from 4hrs per day to 24hrs per day
• Participation in shared and individual chores
• Assistance with medications, such as reminders or help to take medications
• Support to maintain or provide healthy meals, meal planning and grocery shopping
• Personal finances/budgeting
• Interpersonal skills training
• Leisure planning/ Participation in recreation and leisure programs
• Use of community transportation
• Addressing medical/mental/health care issues
• Cooking and housekeeping duties
• Life and social skills development

Individuals are provided with varying degrees of assistance and supervision to support their growth and independence.

The goal of the AIL Program is to increase or maintain the quality of life of an individual through specialized support, community inclusion, increased independence, and to provide consistency and flexibility within a safe home environment.

The services HSRSS provides as part of this program include:

1. Overseeing the recruitment and screening of AIL hosts
2. Performing home studies and suitability assessments for the placement of individuals
3. Providing on-going support to hosts
4. Client specific orientation
5. On-going monitoring and quality assurance for individuals in host family settings
6. Providing transitional support to individuals, hosts and family members
7. Conducting Individual Service Plans annually
8. Bi-monthly program updates and reporting
9. Resource/information Handbook
10. 24 hour emergency support
11. Training and Education specific to the field
12. Administrative support with developing care plans, writing quarterly progress reports and identifying goals for individuals to work towards.
13. Identifying and addressing health and safety needs of the individual.
14. Participate in feedback meetings every two months.
15. Advocacy Support

For more information about the Assisted Independent Living Program or becoming an AIL caregiver or repite provider please contact:

Loretta Rucchin, Director of Operations

ph: 604.936.9944
email: loretta@howesound.net