Concerns, Complaints, and Accountability and Assisted Living

Concerns, Complaints, and Accountability

Operators of assisted living facilities must be registered with the BC Assisted Living Registry(1) and they are subject to inspections by the registrar. Unlike long-term care, operators of assisted living facilities are not required to be licensed.

Assisted living services in BC are governed by the Community Care and Assisted Living Act(2) and the Assisted Living Regulation.(3)

The legislation sets out the requirements that assisted living residences must meet to become registered. It gives the registrar the power to monitor and inspect assisted living residences to ensure they comply with these registration requirements. Facilities run by unregistered operators are also subject to inspection.(4)

The Assisted Living Regulation provides more detail about what operators must do to maintain their registration. It covers physical building requirements, skills required of staff, and operators’ obligations regarding staff screening, emergency preparedness, admission agreements and personal service plans,(5) health and safety of residents, rights of residents,(6) standards of care for hospitality and personal care, complaint procedures, (7) record keeping,(8) and incident reporting.(9)

References

1. British Columbia, “Assisted Living Registry,” online: <http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/assisted-living-in-bc/assisted-living-registry>.
2. “Community Care and Assisted Living Act,” SBC 2002, c 75, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/84lk>.
3. “Assisted Living Regulation,” BC Reg 189/2019, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
4. “Community Care and Assisted Living Act,” SBC 2002, c 75', ss 24, 25.1-25.2, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/84lk>.
5. “Assisted Living Regulation,” BC Reg 189/2019, ss 29-35, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
6. “Assisted Living Regulation,” BC Reg 189/2019, ss 36-39, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
7. “Assisted Living Regulation,” BC Reg 189/2019, s 43, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
8. “Assisted Living Regulation,” BC Reg 189/2019, ss 73-79, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
9. “Assisted Living Regulation,” BC Reg 189/2019, ss 51 & Sch E, online: <http://canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.

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

An officer of the court with the power to make certain decisions, including the settlement of a lawyer’s bill, a party's costs of a court proceeding, and settling the form of an order. An officer of the court charged with the responsibility of reviewing and approving certain documents submitted to the court, such as pleadings. See "jurisdiction" and "pleadings."

An act; a statute; a written law made by a government. See "regulations."

In law, the delivery of a legal document to a party in a court proceeding in a manner which complies with the rules of court, usually by physically handing the document to the party and verifying their identity. Personal service is usually required for the proper delivery of the pleadings that are used to start a proceeding to ensure that the party is given proper notice of the proceeding and the opportunity to mount a defence. See also "ordinary service," "pleadings" and "service, substituted."