Home Care and Senior Housing Whistleblower Protections

Whistleblower Protections

Outlined below are channels for raising concerns and complaints related to home care, assisted living or long-term care. For more information about making a complaint, see the province’s website.

It is against the law for care facilities and providers to retaliate in any way against a person who makes a complaint or raises concerns about the care someone is receiving. This is true whether the complaint comes from the older person receiving care, a staff person, family member, representative or guardian, or other concerned individual. The protection from retaliation extends to cover people in care who are not the ones making complaints, but about whom a complaint has been made. This means care facilities are not allowed to retaliate against a resident if they receive a complaint relating to that resident. For example, they cannot withhold or delay services to the resident, or threaten to evict or discharge the resident, or prevent a person who complained from visiting the resident.(1)

References

1. “Community Care and Assisted Living Act,” SBC 2002, c 75, s 22, 28.1, 28.2, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/84lk>; “Residential Care Regulation,” BC Reg 96/2009, s 60, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/89ln>; “Adult Guardianship Act,” RSBC 1996, c 6, s 46, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/84gj>.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Seniors First BC, February 2024.

(1) A person charged with the legal care of someone under a legal disability. (2) A term under the Family Law Act referring to a person, including a parent, who is responsible for the care and upbringing of a child through the exercise of parental responsibilities. See "disability," "parental responsibilities" and "parenting time."