Financial peace of mind for vulnerable adults and seniors
The Bloom Group’s Adult Guardianship program helps our clients avoid financial exploitation and homelessness. They trust us to ensure their rent and other bills are paid on time.
Since 1998, we’ve helped low-income seniors and adults who can no longer manage their finances stay secure, independent, and supported. Most of our clients are seniors who have chosen us to administer their pension income. Others are referred by community agencies and have been medically certified as unable to manage their finances.
We work closely with care facilities, mental health teams, and other community organizations to ensure clients’ essential needs are met.
Our program is the only one of its kind in B.C., apart from the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC.
Guardianship services we provide
Each client is supported by a dedicated Adult Guardianship worker. Services may be coordinated with family or community providers with the client’s consent.
On behalf of the client, our team:
- Creates a functional budget and debt reduction plan
- Pays essential bills (rent, meals, utilities, pharmacy)
- Helps file taxes and recover past returns
- Liaises with community care providers for financial support needs
- Provides monthly account statements on request
- Applies for eligible benefits such as the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and disability tax credit, and the provincial Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) and BC Bus Pass programs.
We strive to keep fees affordable and fair to our clients while ensuring program sustainability. This enables us to serve as many people in our community as possible. As a non-profit, we re-invest all fees in delivering services.
Program options
Our Adult Guardianship program has two components. Choose the option that meets your needs.
Option 1: Pension management contract (PMC)
A pension management contract (PMC) is for people capable of managing their affairs who want their pensions managed safely and reliably.
A PMC allows us to administer a client’s income from the following:
- Canada Pension Plan
- Old Age Security
- Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Employment, union, veteran pensions, and/or private pensions.
Option 2: Discretionary trusts
A discretionary trust is for people with a Person with Disability (PWD) designation and income who receive a lump sum amount (e.g. inheritance or settlement). To maintain their PWD status with the provincial government, they must keep the money in trust for future use.
Preventing elder abuse
Our program helps prevent financial abuse, which is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada. It is the illegal or unauthorized use of someone else’s money or property, including pressuring them for money or possessions.
It often occurs after a health crisis or loss of a loved one and can be difficult to detect.
People who are alone, lonely or in poor health are more vulnerable. They may find it harder to protect themselves from demands for money or other forms of financial, physical or emotional abuse.
Financial abuse can be difficult to identify or recognize. It is often a pattern rather than a single event, happening over a long period of time. To help protect themselves, seniors need to remember that their money and property belong to them, not to family or anyone else.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing financial or other forms of abuse, contact the Seniors Abuse & Information Line.
Contact Adult Guardianship
778-945-3323Office
391 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1G5
Office hours: Monday through Friday (closed on holidays)
Testimonial
A family perspective
“It is clear to me what you did for my mother: everything! You managed her money so she didn’t want for anything. You paid all her bills, You were her friend, her only friend in Vancouver. You were my long distance partner. Thank you.”
Daughter of Adult Guardianship client