ReAct Adult Protection Program

We receive reports, provide consultation and coordinate responses to adults who are abused, neglected and self-neglected and are unable to seek support and assistance on their own due to: 

• physical restraint,
• a physical handicap that limits their ability to seek help, or
• an illness, disease, injury or other conditions that affect their ability to make decisions about the abuse or neglect. 

Referrals to this program will be responded to in accordance with the Adult Guardianship Act and Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act.

The Adult Guardianship Act gives VCH enhanced powers to intervene in emergencies and investigate situations where vulnerable adults are living at risk. The Adult Guardianship Act applies to abuse, neglect or self-neglect in a public place, the adult's home, a care facility or any other place except a correctional facility. 

We provide Vancouver Coastal Health frontline care workers with education and supports to ensure they have the ability to:

• Recognize abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults
• Know how and where to report suspected cases
• Investigate and respond to reported cases. 

VCH staff can visit the ReAct intranet site for staff resources (Internal network only).

If you suspect that a vulnerable adult has been physically, sexually, psychologically or financially abused or is the victim of neglect or self-neglect, you need to act! Report concerns to a Designated Agency in the link below.

Report adult abuse and neglect

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) established ReAct to provide education, resources and a response program to ensure frontline care providers are aware of and understand their obligations to:

• Recognize: Identify situations involving abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults
• Report: suspected cases of abuse, neglect and self-neglect to a Designated Responder
• Act: Investigate and respond to reported cases

VCH is a "designated agency" responsible for investigating situations of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of adults who are unable to seek support and assistance on their own due to restraint, physical handicap, illness, disease, injury or any other condition that affects decision-making ability.

Our response Is guided by the principles that adults have the right to live in the manner they wish and to accept or refuse support as long as they are capable of making those decisions; and that they should receive the most effective but least intrusive support, assistance or protection when they are unable to care for themselves.

Until the contrary is demonstrated, every adult is presumed capable.

Abuse is the deliberate mistreatment of an adult that causes physical, mental or emotional harm, or causes damage to or loss of assets.

Neglect is the failure to provide necessary care, assistance, guidance or attention that causes, or is reasonably likely to cause the person physical, mental or emotional harm or substantial damage to or loss of assets. 

Self-neglect is any failure of an adult to take care of themselves that causes, or is reasonably likely to cause within a short period of time, serious physical, mental or emotional harm or substantial damage to or loss of assets. 

Learn more about adult abuse and neglect

Learn more about BC Legislation related to adult protection

Education and practice support materials for educators, facilitators, Community Health and Human Service Workers, First Nations Community Members, health authority staff, Community Response Network Members, and a wide range of adult learners to understand the complex dynamic of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults and older adult in First Nations communities.

First Nations ReAct

VCH has prepared a manual to help frontline care workers and staff deal with suspected cases of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults. Contact the ReAct program office for a copy of the manual or download Act on Abuse and Neglect: Manual for VCH staff.

The manual provides:

• An overview of the Adult Guardianship Legislation and the role of VCH as a Designated Responder to suspected cases of abuse, neglect or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult
• Information, responder processes, screening and assessment tools that help staff deal with suspected cases of abuse, neglect or self-neglect
• Information on working with Police and the role of VCH
• Assessment tools

You can also download individual appendices and tools in our resources section.