Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils (VCAFC) is made up of self directed Family Councils in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority region. Each Family Council comprises families, friends and representatives (companions and legal representatives) of residents. All Family Council members are volunteers who have or have had lived experience with a loved one in long-term care (LTC).

VCAFC exists to support all Family Councils for the sake of the collective voice of all residents. We raise resident issues and family concerns and offer ideas to contribute to the conversation for quality improvement of the resident experience. We educate Family Councils on relevant topics and discuss new advances with the shared goal of improving quality of life in LTC.

VCAFC promotes Family Councils as well as Resident Councils. We support the LTC Regulations and educate LTC home operators and their staff about both types of councils and the important role that each can play.

VCAFC facilitates education sessions to inform next steps in the successful start up of councils, as well as offers support on council maintenance and sustainability. VCAFC is an ongoing resource for councils.

VCAFC also serves to elevate the voices of resident and family councils through information sharing at regional and provincial forums. There is one regional association of family councils in each of the five health authorities. Together, the five regional authorities make up the registered non-profit society, Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC). ILTCCABC is the provincial association of family councils who advocate at the highest level, in meetings with the Ministry of Health (MoH) as well as through written reports to the MoH. VCAFC’s goal is to ensure every LTC home in the VCH region is offered the opportunity to offer their council a voice at the regional and
provincial level.