The ReAct Adult Protection Program receives reports, provides consultation and coordinates responses to abused, neglected and self-neglected adults who cannot seek support and assistance on their own.
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.
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:
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 support to ensure they have the ability to:
VCH staff can visit the ReAct intranet site for staff resources (internal network only.)
Report adult abuse and neglect
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.
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:
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.
