Designated Agencies for Home Care and Senior Housing

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Designated Agencies[edit]

Designated agencies in BC are responsible for responding to reports of abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults who have no one to act on their behalf. Designated agencies include the five regional health authorities and Community Living BC (for adults receiving their services).(1) For their contact information, see Appendix A.

When there are concerns about abuse or neglect in long-term care or assisted living, these are considered complaints about paid caregivers, and they should be made to the appropriate licensing authority within the relevant health authority rather than a designated agency (see Appendix A).

When there are concerns about a vulnerable adult being abused or neglected by someone other than a paid caregiver, or self-neglecting, a designated agency may be able to help.

A designated agency has the authority to investigate and take necessary legal actions. Wherever possible, the designated agency responder must talk directly to the adult, involve the adult in deciding what to do, and provide the adult with the support they want and need. The designated authority may:

  • interview relatives;
  • contact the adult’s doctor and health team;
  • contact the person managing the adult’s affairs (attorney, representative, joint bank account holder);
  • report criminal offences to the police;
  • report to the PGT or other agencies;
  • apply for an access order from Provincial Court, Family Division in non-emergency situations to enter the premises and interview the adult, or have health care providers examine the adult and determine if they need care; and
  • seek an entry warrant from a Judicial Justice of the Peace or a Provincial Court judge for the purpose of interviewing the adult, if the process to obtain an access order will cause a delay that could result in further harm to the adult. This does not allow health care providers to examine the adult.(2)

There are some misconceptions about what designated agencies can do. They do not:

  • perform wellness checks (checking on an adult without a report of abuse or neglect);
  • respond to emergencies;
  • provide support to adults who can reach out for supports on their own; or
  • investigate reports of abuse by staff that can typically be resolved by the Patient Care Quality Office or licensing or the assisted living registry.

References[edit]

  1. “Designated Agencies Regulation,” BC Reg 19/2002, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/850b>; “Adult Guardianship Act,” RSBC 1996, c 6, s 44, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/84gj>.
  2. “Adult Guardianship Act,” RSBC 1996, c 6, ss 48-49, 51, & 59, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/84gj>


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