Better at Home Cleaning

Mayne Island’s Better at Home Cleaning Program for Seniors 
Supported by United Way 

The United Way’s Better at Home program provides non-medical light housekeeping services for seniors aged 65 and older on Mayne island. In some cases cleaning can be subsidized and those participants are subject to income testing. This program is designed to help older adults maintain independence in their homes.

Light Housekeeping Tasks can include

• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Mopping floors
• Cleaning counters and bathrooms
• Washing dishes
• Changing linens
• Taking out garbage

Supplies
Clients are responsible for supplying their own cleaning products and equipment for these services.

Service Limits
Typically, the services are capped at a specific subsidized allotment, such as up to two hours per month at the sliding scale rate. We are also limited to cleaner availability and hours. Additional hours can be arranged at full private cost.

Exclusions
The program does not provide heavy or deep cleaning services, such as:

• Spring cleaning
• Oven cleaning

How to Apply
To apply, you must first register as a participant with the Director of Programs and Services by calling the MIALS mainline, 250-213-6191
Please be ready to provide financial details such as the first page of your last year’s taxes if you would like to be considered for subsidized rates if a spot is available. 

Client Selection & Qualification List
Clients will qualify based on the following criteria. In order to make the waitlist a participant must have a minimum of two criteria listed below and the more criteria points a client hits, the higher on the placement list they may land. 

Qualification Criteria

• Client or primary person in the home must be 65 or older
• Safety Needs 
• Income Level
• A current MIALS Client 
• Few other supports or means to clean (ie. are there many other family members present etc) 
• Be recommended by another island organization or professional such as the health centre, first responders or social worker.
• Medical Need (Mobility, Mental Health, etc)

Waitlist Guidelines:
Due to high demand, many providers operate with a waitlist for housekeeping services. It’s advisable to apply early to secure your spot.

• MIALS will maintain a waitlist (in the order that they qualify)
• MIALS will be transparent inside of MIALS as well as with clients where on the list that client is.
• There will be a 6 month review for client use which is based on client need as well as financial capacity as long as funding allows. MIALS may remove a client from the list or they can remove themselves at any time with one week’s notice.
• MIALS does not discriminate based on age, religion, ethnicity/nationality, disability, medical history, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity or paternity, gender identity or sexual orientation from our clients, participants, or contractors.