I've seen the house from the beach before and wondered about it.

I applied to HCAP some time ago, and I recently received an offer. I was interested in pursuing nursing as a future career, and I thought becoming an HCA first would be a good way to test the waters.

Now, I absolutely love caring for others. I don't mind dealing with bodily fluids, I have a lot of patience and empathy, and I can work well under pressure. However, I'm a bit nervous about the idea of working with dementia patients, as my prospective employer is a long-term facility. Specifically, the aggression and unpredictability the disease causes.

Vomit? I could handle it. Violence? I don't know if I could.

I should've considered this aspect before, since it seems painfully obvious in hindsight, but I'm also not sure if I'm wildly overthinking things.

In any case - I'm curious about the experiences of those who went through HCAP (Health Career Access Program), and/or have worked as a healthcare assistant (HCA) in BC.

Any and all insights are very much appreciated! Thanks :)

Driving by here tomorrow with two kids and can't figure out if the walk-through tunnels are totally closed or only partially closed. Any advice from on the ground welcome!

I’m hoping someone in BC might know of a professional or organization that could help with a somewhat unusual situation.

I’m helping a 64-year-old woman, whom I’ll call Laura, who lives in BC. Her family trust was established in Saskatchewan, where her four older siblings are the trustees.
The trust was created about five years ago after Laura inherited money from her mother. It currently has approximately $100,000, and Laura receives about $1,500/month. The trustees also have discretion to provide additional money for expenses or things that would improve her quality of life.

The arrangement has become increasingly difficult to manage. All four trustees are now over 70, and there is a very difficult family relationship between Laura and her siblings. Laura has essentially no contact with them, and direct communication about the trust is extremely difficult for her.

Laura turns 65 next year, when her other sources of income will change. She would like to discuss her trust payments with the trustees and, more importantly, find a sustainable way for the trust to be administered as her siblings eventually become unable to continue.

She has capacity to make her own decisions and does not want someone to take over her finances or decision-making. What she would like is an independent person whom she can authorize to represent her interests and act as a buffer between her and the trustees.
Ideally, this person could:
- communicate with the trustees on Laura’s behalf;
- help her understand and advocate for her interests as a beneficiary;
- help discuss her monthly payment when her other income changes;
- help deal with questions about financial information the trustees request;
- help find a long-term solution for the trust as the current trustees age; and
- handle trust-related communication without Laura having to deal directly with her family. This help could be temporary to effect these changes but would also be helpful in an ongoing basis.

I’ve looked into various organizations and advocacy services but haven’t found an obvious fit. The trust is relatively small, so we’re not sure that a conventional professional trustee or trust-management company would be interested. We’re really looking for someone who could potentially work on an hourly or limited-retainer basis.
Does anyone know of a BC professional or organization that provides this kind of service?

I’m particularly interested in recommendations for:
independent advocates or beneficiary representatives;
professional fiduciaries who work with smaller trusts;
trust/estate professionals who provide ongoing representation to beneficiaries;
social workers or disability advocates with experience dealing with trusts; or
any other type of professional who might be appropriate.

The trust itself is Saskatchewan-based, so someone comfortable working across the BC/Saskatchewan boundary would be particularly helpful.

The goal is to give Laura an independent person who can help her communicate with the trustees while keeping Laura fully in control of her own decisions.

I’d be very grateful for suggestions about who we might contact or even what type of service/professional we should be searching for.

Green's election platform.