Abuse and neglect take many forms, and anyone with a concern can make a report. On Vancouver Island, the Health Authority is the designated agency that must investigate under BC's Adult Guardianship Act. Reports can be made anonymously.
Reporting abuse or neglect
Island Health is legally required to respond to and investigate reports of adult abuse or neglect. You can report directly to them, or call the Seniors Abuse & Information Line if you'd rather speak to someone first or stay anonymous.
Complaints about government-funded care
If the concern is about care provided through the public system (home health, assisted living, or long-term care), the complaint goes through a different channel depending on the setting:
- Patient Care Quality complaint to Island Health
- Health and safety complaint for Assisted Living
- Health and safety complaint for Long-Term Care
If you don't get a resolution, you can escalate to the BC Patient Care Quality Office or, for AL and LTC specifically, the BC Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board. Whether those agencies and processes have any integrity is another matter, but the pathways exist.
Privacy and confidentiality complaints
Misuse of personal or medical information is its own kind of abuse. The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner investigates violations of BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. You can file a complaint with the OIPC directly.
If something feels wrong, report it. You don't need proof, and you don't need to give your name. The agencies above are obligated to look into it.