Impact of Scaling Up Innovative Community Programs for Seniors with Higher Needs
The need:
The United Way of British Columbia saw that appropriate programming and supports didn’t exist for at-risk seniors who want to stay in their homes as they aged. With funding from the Ministry of Health, they implemented ‘Higher Needs’ – a program that scales community-based service innovations to provide supports to homebound, at risk and isolated seniors so they can stay active and connected in their communities. They needed help to evaluate the impact of the program across British Columbia.
What we did:
We designed a mixed-methods evaluation combining hard data and compelling stories to holistically measure differences made across the 50+ program sites. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we quickly gathered data to support the program to pivot in response to seniors’ immediate and practical needs. Our analysis and recommendations informed program improvements, demonstrated impacts, and will be used to advocate for scaling and sustaining promising practices. This project was completed in collaboration with the Howegroup.
Services:
Developmental Evaluation
Process Evaluation
Outcome Evaluation
Impact Areas:
Seniors’ isolation
Systems change
Crisis management
