What does it take for people with complex medical needs and intellectual disabilities to truly thrive? In Kelowna, a unique model of care is showing that with the right expertise and compassion, lives can flourish with dignity and security.
Bethesda’s three homes in Kelowna support people with intellectual disabilities and complex medical conditions with exceptional, professional health care. Nurses are qualified in providing medical procedures and practices, such as diabetes management, gastrostomy feeds and GI and J-tube care, oxygen therapy, administering medication, complex seizure disorders and urinary catheterization that support workers are not qualified to practice, as well as medical assessments and offering various interventions appropriate to the assessed needs. These are just some of the medical procedures that we can provide in these homes.
Full-time registered nurses (RNs) are on the staff of two of the homes, while a third home employs a part-time RN. This is an unusual arrangement in BC: within the community living sector, most homes do not have nurses on staff and this isn’t something CLBC is negotiating with other homes.
Having a nurse on staff in the home enables us to support people who otherwise may require frequent hospitalization. The dedicated team of RNs and support workers offer stability and safety, while maintaining a warm, nurturing and loving home environment for the unique needs of each of the people living in the homes. Moreover, there is no nurse rotation, as in a hospital, so a relationship builds between the people in the home and the nurses.
These homes show what is possible when expertise and compassion come together.
Sunshine, fresh produce, and the sweet sounds of a local musician—Megan and Barb are enjoying every moment at the farmers’ market. Thanks to the medical care and support they receive in their home, they can live rich, full lives in the community, savoring the sights, smells, and flavors of a day such as this.
Take Cassie’s story as an example. This story is fictionalized to protect confidentiality and privacy of the actual people who live in the homes. However, her story is similar to situations that are real.
Cassie is a spirited 34-year-old woman with an intellectual disability and a history of severe epilepsy. She recently underwent a hospital stay due to complications from a respiratory infection. Upon discharge, she required specialized care: complex medication management, respiratory therapy, and a tailored plan to prevent further infections. Thanks to the home’s full-time RN staff, Cassie’s transition back was seamless. The RN carefully reviewed her discharge plan, collaborated with her doctor, trained the support staff, and monitored Cassie’s progress to ensure her health stabilized. Today, Cassie is thriving—her infectious laughter echoing through the home as she works on her colouring books, helps with baking and chats with the staff and her housemates.
Bethesda is deeply grateful for the service contracts provided by Community Living British Columbia (CLBC), which enable these homes to operate at such a high standard. The RNs in these homes don’t just provide medical care—they offer peace of mind, safety, and a bridge between the healthcare system and the community.
CEO Tori Dalair said, “While Bethesda has worked to expand this model to other regions where we operate, replicating these exceptional homes has proven challenging. The service contracts that make this level of care possible are no longer available through CLBC, but we continue to be grateful to have been able to negotiate this level of care when we could.”
Nonetheless, the homes we do operate demonstrate what can be achieved with the right resources and partnerships. They are beacons of hope, showing what is possible when dedicated professionals and tailored care come together.
The stories of people thriving in these nurse-supported homes illustrate the impact of this unique model. These homes are not just places to live; they are places to grow, heal, and flourish. We celebrate the extraordinary care made possible by the partnership with CLBC and remain committed to advocating for the best possible support for all people with disabilities, wherever they may call home.
People in the nurse-supported homes in Kelowna enjoy a high quality of life.
Bethesda operates three nurse-supported homes in Kelowna where registered nurses (RNs) are part of the staff team, providing care for people with complex medical needs. These homes represent a rare and vital model of care within staff-supported environments.
