Westhaven

What families should know

Placement through Island Health — publicly funded placement

Island Health manages access to Westhaven, so families start by working with an Island Health case manager or Community Health Services office rather than calling the home directly, and placement is offered through the publicly funded long-term care system. Westhaven is a small, publicly funded complex care home operated by Island Health that also hosts booked respite stays, which can give caregivers short-term relief while keeping their loved one in a staffed care setting. The building sits along Port Alberni Highway at the edge of town, so it is easy to reach by car from across Port Alberni and surrounding rural areas, though the immediate surroundings are more highway-oriented than village-like. Transit is available in the broader corridor, but because service levels can change, families who rely on buses will want to check current BC Transit routes and walking distances from the nearest stop. Residents here typically live with the kinds of physical frailty and chronic conditions that require 24-hour nursing and personal care, and many will also have some level of dementia or other cognitive impairment typical of long-term care populations. BCSA QuickFacts reports that admission waits into Westhaven have ranged widely, with an average of 243 days, so it is important to understand how Island Health is currently prioritizing and placing people into this home. When deciding whether Westhaven is the right fit, consider how comfortable you are with a highway-edge location and whether the mix of long-stay and respite care aligns with your expectations for stability and routines. Ask about current waitlist status, visiting policies, and whether this setting matches your family member's care needs.

Based on BC Seniors Advocate QuickFacts, Health Authority records, and publicly available facility information · Last reviewed May 14, 2026