Adult Abuse & Neglect

The identity of a person who makes a report to a designated agency must remain confidential. Reports may be made anonymously.

Any act(s) of violence or rough treatment causing injury or physical discomfort. May include the use of restraints. 

Any act(s), including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilization; or any other treatment which diminishes the adult’s sense of identity, and self-worth. This can include ignoring or diminishing an adult’s cultural identity and/or self-identity.

The misuse of an adult’s funds and assets; obtaining property and funds without the adult’s knowledge and full consent, or in the case of an adult who is not capable, not representing or acting in the adult’s best interest.

Preventing a person from following their spiritual or religious traditions or forcing a different spiritual or religious practice on a person. Could also include demeaning or belittling a person’s spiritual or religious traditions, beliefs or practices. A person may feel shame for wanting to practice their traditional or family beliefs.

Adults are neglected when a caregiver does not provide the basic daily living needs of an adult dependent upon them for things such as food, clothing, shelter, bathing, medication, health care and doctor visits. This causes dependent adults physical, mental or emotional harm.

Self-neglect happens when an adult can no longer take care of their own basic needs to the point that causes the person physical, mental, or emotional harm, or significant loss of their assets.

• Confirm the right of adults to self-determination, including the right to refuse health care on moral, religious or other grounds
• Provide an opportunity for adults to decide in advance who will make decisions on their behalf should they become incapable of making decisions about health, personal care, financial and legal matters in the future
• Ensure there are clear rules and guidelines for people making health-care decisions and other substitute decisions for others
• Reinforce the role of family and friends in providing adults with support and substitute decision-making
• Address the issues of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of adults who cannot seek help on their own
• Provide alternative guardianship avenues for adults who did not plan in advance for their incapacity and/or protect adults when the plans fail to provide the necessary safeguards against misuse

• Services
   
• Reports and Publications

The Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) is a toll-free telephone line that is staffed seven days a week (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST on weekends.  SAIL is a safe place for older adults to talk to someone about situations where they feel they are being abused or mistreated.

VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be accessed by calling or texting 1-800-563-0808 or sending an email to VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca.

Community response networks (CRNs) promote safe communities, through the development of community networks where individuals and private and public sector organizations can participate in activities to prevent abuse, neglect and self-neglect of adults.

    • Search for CRNs by health authority

    • Learn more about CRNs