Peer Support Program

Peer Support is a helping service designed to support and enhance the social and mental well-being of individuals who are facing life transitions and challenges.

Peer Support services address the needs of aging adults and seniors by providing confidential, no-cost, one-to-one support with the help of trained volunteers – the peer support volunteers.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the Peer Support services at Century House, please contact us today.

For more information or to leave a message, please call: 604-519-1064 ext. 1 or 778-882-2472

The Vital Connections program has recently moved:
Family Services of Greater Vancouver, New West office
200-601 6th Street
604-525-9144 extension 2.

Who Are the Peer Support Volunteers?

The Peer Support Volunteers are Association members 50 years and older who are interested in the well-being of aging adults in the Century House community. Peer Support volunteers are good listeners. Their personal experience and the training they receive enables them to better understand the problems and needs of the senior they are helping.

The Peer Support Volunteers are there to offer:

• Listening and emotional support
• Empathy and guidance
• Information and outreach
• Exploration of possibilities
• Assistance in setting goals

Seniors want to help themselves.

They generally seek out their peers for help when they are experiencing frustration, concerns, worry, or other problems.

A peer support volunteer genuinely cares and is willing to listen to seniors as they talk about their thoughts and feelings. A peer support volunteer will use well developed communication skills to help encourage self exploration.

The function of a peer support volunteer is to assist in the smooth transition of a senior to a new experience, to work toward a goal of independence, to enable seniors to enjoy a sense of well-being, and to become an active member of the community.

Peer support volunteers will:

• Maintain confidentiality
• Respect personal boundaries, values and beliefs
• Not judge or give advice
• Empower clients with self-awareness
• Explore options to address needs
• Encourage clients to find their own solutions
• Offer community connections and resources

Volunteer Opportunities

We offer volunteer training on an ongoing basis. Peer support volunteers are Association members 50 years and older who are interested in the well-being of aging adults in their community. Being a peer support volunteer is meaningful and rewarding. All applicants are carefully screened before being accepted into our extensive training course. A professional counselor trains and supervises all peer support volunteers. Volunteers effectively assist peers to address situations that, left unattended, can lead to emotional deterioration.

Donating to the Peer Support Program

The Century House Peer Support Program is a self-supporting program that receives no government funding. We are an entirely self-sustaining group and rely on donations from the public. The program has provided this invaluable service to seniors in New Westminster since inception at Century House 30 years ago.

For more information about how the Peer Support Program can assist you or to donate to our program, please contact us:

• Phone: 604-519-1064 ext. 1 or 778-882-2472
• Email: chaps.connect@gmail.com

In late 2023, Century House Peer Support program (CHAPS) was awarded a $4000 grant from the local branch of RTOERO, an organization of retired members of the education community. The funds are dedicated to supporting the Aging in Place and Care for the Caregiver Support programs. You can read all about it in RTOERO’s media release here.

Century House Peer Support

620 Eighth Street,
New Westminster, BC V3M 3S2

T: 604-519-1064 ext. 1 or 778-882-2472
E: chaps.connect@gmail.com

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