We believe that:

• the ongoing involvement of family, friends and/or caregivers, is strengthened through  participation in Family Councils, resulting in enhanced care and improved quality of life for  Residents of long-term care homes.
• the voice of Family Councils in long term care will be further raised, through networking,  knowledge sharing of systemic issues and ideas for solutions, education and advocacy.

2.1 Provide a forum for networking Family Councils of long-term care homes in the  Vancouver Coastal region so that they can discuss common issues, and work to find solutions.  

2.2 Guide and support all Family Councils, to be self-led, self-directed and democratic;  working respectfully and collaboratively with the senior leadership team on issues directly  impacting the quality of life of all residents in long-term care.  

2.3 Encourage, guide and support Family, Friends and Caregivers of residents in long term  care where a Family Council may not already exist, to establish Family Council through  educating on best practices.  

2.4 Promote understanding of the Residents’ Bill of Rights, Residential Care Regulations,  Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Home and Community Care Policy Manual, and other  relevant statutes, regulations, policies and practices as they pertain to implementation

2.5 Provide Family Council members education opportunities so they can better understand  the roles and responsibility that Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and their private and  contracted service providers have in provision of long-term care services.  

2.6 Provide Family Council members with education opportunities to better understand the  roles and responsibility of Family Councils.  

2.7 Share information and develop recommendations regarding quality of care and quality of  life for Residents residing in long term care homes within the Vancouver Coastal Health  Authority and make formal representation to the appropriate jurisdiction/ authority. 

2.8 Take broader and unresolved long term care quality of care/quality of life concerns to the  appropriate jurisdiction/authority. 

2.9 Engage with the provincial association of family councils and advance the quality of care  and quality of life for residents through dialogue with the Ministry of Health and other  ministries as necessary about regulations and policies that impact the residents residing in long  term care homes and their families. 

3.0 Advance the role and opportunities of independent family councils within the Vancouver  Coastal Health Authority (VCH) through dialogue with the Ministry of Health and other  ministries as necessary about regulations and policies that impact on the operation of  independent Family Councils within VCH.

3.1 Membership invites and is composed of family, friends and representatives of residents  in long term care. Advocates of Family Council and quality of life of residents in long term  care, who wish to start a Family Council are welcome members. One vote per Family Council  and one vote for each family council in the process of forming. 

3.2 Each member stated below is entitled to one vote at VCAFC meetings and may hold office  on the VCAFC Executive 

1. a) One appointed or elected family council member representative from each long term  care home in the VCH to represent their individual Family Council. 
2. b) One appointed or elected family member representative from a VCH long term care  home in the process of forming a family council to represent their long-term care home.
3. c) a person, other than those in (a) and (b) above, who is currently, or has in the past,  been involved in advocating to enhance the quality of care and quality life of residents in long  term care. Such a person may have previously worked in long term care, volunteered in long  term care, been a member of a Family Council at some point in time, and, through  recommendation of a member set out in category (a) or (b) above wishes to advocate for  Family Councils by becoming a member in VCAFC. This membership is subject to approval by  the VCAFC executive.  

3.3 Following the death or discharge of a resident, family members/friends/advocates are  encouraged to continue their involvement with the VCAFC which includes being an active,  voting participant, and eligible to serve on the VCAFC executive.  

3.4 Family Council Meetings and Long-Term Care Home interpersonal relationships are  guided by the Code of Conduct.

4.1 Executive Membership is open to family council members and friends of residents in long  term care, as well as, advocates for Family Council and BC Seniors in the Vancouver Coastal  Region.  

4.2 The Executive committee will consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Recording Secretary, past  Chair and two Directors who will be elected from the VCAFC membership at the Annual General  Meeting. In the event of a vacancy of the table officers, the vacancy will be filled by an election  at the next meeting.  

4.3 The Past Chair will remain on the Executive in an advisory position.  

4.4 If the Chair is vacated for any reason, the Vice-Chair will immediately assume the office of  Chair. At the next meeting, the Vice-Chair will ask the members if anyone is interested in filling  the vacant Chair position for the remainder of the term. If only one member indicates his/her  willingness to serve, that person will be appointed for the remainder of the term. If two or  more members indicate a willingness to serve, a by-election will be held at this meeting to  determine who will be elected to the Chair position for the remainder of the term. 

4.5 If an executive office vacancy (excluding the Chair) occurs between elections, the Chair will  ask the members at the next meeting if anyone is interested in filling the vacant executive  position for the remainder of the term. If only one member indicates his/her willingness to  serve, that person will be appointed for the remainder of the term. If two or more members  indicate a willingness to serve, a by-election will be held at this meeting to determine who will  be elected to the executive position for the remainder of the term.

5.1 Meetings will be held at the call of the Chair. 

5.2 Meeting schedules will be a time agreed to by the majority of members. 

5.3 Meetings may be held via “Electronic Means “using platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft  teams which permit participants to communicate with each other or otherwise participate in  the meeting at the same time, in a manner comparable, but not necessarily identical, to a  meeting where all were present in the same location, and in relation to a vote, permits voters  to cast a vote on the matter for determination in a manner that adequately discloses the  intentions of the voters 

5.4 Should a delegated RA representative not be able to attend a provincial association  meeting, that representative can designate another RA member to be their substitute for that  particular meeting. 

5.5 Should a vacancy (temporarily or permanent) occur within the delegated RA  representatives; the RA will delegate another of its members to serve as a delegated RA  representative until the next VCAFC election of representatives to ILTCCABC.. 

5.6 Meetings will maintain an open, respectful dialogue with VCH to advance the role and  opportunities of Family Councils, to exchange information, and share ideas and  recommendations that will lead to improving the care and quality of life of all Residents in long  term care.  

5.7 Meetings will be held with other Regional Associations of Family Council in BC to ensure  that Family Councils are recognized as the “Voice of Family and Family Councils in British  Columbia”, and to make recommendations and formal presentation to the appropriate  authorities (i.e., Health Authority, Ministry of Health) about regulations and policies that that  will lead to informed policy and improve the care and quality of life of all Residents in long  term care.  

5.8 VCAFC will engage in activities, partner in, and promote the campaigns of others that will  lead to inform policy and to improve the care and quality of life of all Residents in long term  care. 

6b.1 Representatives (up to 3 from each region) are brought into ILTCCABC every year at  their AGM (held in May). It is for this reason, a separate vote for representatives take place  in April (or the Regional Family Council Forum nearest the ILTCCABC AGM). 

6b.2 At the (April) VCAFC Regional Family Council Forum, the election of the 3  representatives to ILTCCABC will take place. 

6b.3 There are 3 representatives who will serve to participate at the ILTCCABC level,  attending monthly meetings, taking part in campaigns, providing input and feedback as  requested and other involvements as offered by the ILTCCABC Board for a one year term. 

6b.4 The 3 representatives will be comprised of The Chair, the Vice-chair and 1 other elected 

member. 

6b.5 The voting will take place by at “show of hands” (could be electronic means) at the  (April) VCAFC Regional Family Council Forum

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7.1 At least 3 members (two of whom must be Executive members) must be present to  constitute a quorum.

8.1 An agenda will be prepared by the Executive for each meeting. It will be circulated via  email prior to each meeting along with the minutes of the previous meeting and any related  attachments.  

8.2 A copy of the minutes will be maintained in the VCAFC electronic document management  system, which will be made available to all Executive members.

9.1 An annual review will occur at the Annual General Meeting to evaluate the effectiveness of  VCAFC.  

9.2 On the last page at the end of the document, the original adopted date and all subsequent  amended on dates will be shown