The 2-1-1 phone service has been expanded in B.C. to help seniors who live at home, in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BC Senior Advocate Isobel Mackenzie says seniors who call 2-1-1 will speak to a live operator, and can arrange to have essentials like groceries and medication delivered, as well as other service like wellness checks.

She says until now, the service was only available for coastal B.C. and not for the interior or the north.

“You can now call anywhere in the province and you will reach a live operator. It’s backed up by a website, BC 2-1-1. And they will manage calls for people who want to help, as well as people who need help,” Mackenzie says.

“There are certainly some additional challenges, but the benefit now is they can call 2-1-1. And I am very, very hopeful that this is a legacy can continue and be one of a few silver linings that come out of this.”

For safety reasons, Mackenzie says people wanting to volunteer to deliver to those seniors will have to do a criminal record check and go through other screening.