Seniors Services Society - New Westminster, British Columbia

Sun G.

Maybe the name needs a change. There seems little are about Seniors. I was involved in getting some help for my 85 year old friend, it took almost 2 months to get some replies/help. Help still appreciated but it was after the real need (major surgery). The office gets tax money for salaries etc. so they are (I assume) public servants, but who do they serve. Maybe a BIG overhaul is needed with some (on-line is fine) explanation what the office does.

m. R.

Best staff, very humble , good listeners , empathetic hard working help people in needs.
🙏♥️♥️♥️.
Maria

Veronique

Generally the seniors services current reviews are very discouraging and staff seem less than understanding about the needs of seniors and the normal physical decline as everyone ages. Plus the services for assistance in general services ( yard upkeep, snow removal , housekeeping etc) ) to keep living in place are no longer available due to ? Over 80 does not mean incompetent but does make staying at home without help, very difficult. Many reviews are over 3 years ago and current reviews are very negative. Ombudsmen are needed to speak for those who run out of Seniors 2023 Community Resource List. I believe there should be a training course required for anyone working in Senior services so they are educated about the aging process and treat elders with respect and understanding.

Emily C.

Please fire your receptionist. Please stop the ministry from funding this joke of an organization. Extremely horrible traumatizing treatment of clients over the phone. She also demanded the name of my mom (not sure why) and it felt like she was racially profiling us because of her ethnic name.

M K.

I called Seniors Services Society for interm financial help as I had just left a domestically violent relationship. I had been injured. I explained to the woman who returned my call, (Leonor? Ellenor?) that I wanted to speak with their HPP worker. I was about to explain more when I was interrupted with a demand to bring my income tax records in. She would not listen further to me and said there was a process I had to follow and it would take some time and I would not get help unless I followed the process which was to meet with a long term housing navigator. After that the HPP worker. I would have to come in person, only she would book an appointment. I could not speak to the worker myself, I could not email. It did not matter that I did not want long term housing in BC, I had to apply for it anyway, with my income tax records. She repeated that I had to follow the strict process. Even after booking an appointment with the housing navigator she would not give the direct phone number. If I needed to cancel I had to go through this woman. She became increasingly more aggressive. She was very controlling. She was everything I had just left. This was a horrible experience. I had expected empathy and kindness from an organization in the business of helping. There was no empathy or kindness. The call left me upset for days. There was no way to contact anyone else in the organization, no other phone numbers or emails posted, no choice but to deal with this controlling angry woman. This is on top of the significant trauma I was seeking help for.

Emily P.

Please fire your receptionist. She is the epitome of harmful colonialist gatekeeping for government services. The way she treats people over the phone is absolutely disgusting. I can't believe the ministry fund this organization who doesn't monitor their own employees for culturally insensitive and traumatizing practices. FFS. Please fire this person.

I tried to reach out to your organization over the phone and was received by a very rude staff member over the main phone line. My main goal was to acquire information and next steps, but she started off the conversation in a very accusing manner expecting us to know what your organization does, etc. and then interrupting me almost every step of the way as I'm explaining my mom's situation. She demanded to talk to my mother directly, even though I was trying to explain the situation (she has early diagnosis of alzheimers so her information might not be accurate and she is incapable of looking up services or using technology but she is able to independently live on her own). She is in a weird grey area where she can live on her own, but she's not capable of accessing services, doing paperwork or life admin in general due to her low intelligence. Both my brother and I are filling for this gap.

The lady then rudely interrupts when I asking about housing (since it's on the website) and tells me straight up there's nothing available and is generally unhelpful. People that are calling in for information don't need to be met with this kind of attitude. It already emotionally sensitive to have to deal with this situation and to add to the trauma, we need to interact with apathetic gatekeepers who won't even take time to listen and explain things properly.

If there are no suitable services, all we need is a civil conversation but this lady was so rude it caused me to react emotionally to her and hang up the phone. Due to the many barriers my mother has faced, this is not how people should treat each other, especially a non-profit that claims to support seniors in the community.

Karmen C.

Phone receptionist has disgusting etiquette treating BC clients that are entitled to a safe and free service for vulnerable populations. Maybe the government should take away your funding since you are so hellbent on turning seniors away. What's the point in you existing.

Leslie V.

When I needed their help/assistance the most they deserted me and without my knowledge booked a paid service. I could have done that on my own, will hesitate to ever use them again, too bad. Being 86 I consider myself a senior.