What is a Family Council?

According to the Ministry of Health, a family council is a group of people who are the contact persons, representatives or relatives of a resident, and who meet regularly to maintain and enhance the quality of life of residents in Long-Term Care.

Family Councils are intended to be self-led, self-determining and democratic. A Long-Term Care home will designate a staff liaison for support and information-sharing. The liaison will also ensure that a timely response is provided back to the Family Council when concerns and questions are raised.

A Family Council will:

  • Provide a way for all its members to share ideas and experiences with each other.
  • Provide its members with educational opportunities.
  • Establish effective lines of communication between all families, Long-Term Care Home leaders and their staff.
  • Have regular meetings that can provide a forum for safe, productive discussion, and help “families” to identify opportunities for improvement to residents and ensure recognition of what has been improved or achieved by their Long-Term Care Home.
  • Offer suggestions to Long-Term Care Home leaders on matters related to delivery of quality care for residents in care.
  • Provide input to processes such as Accreditation, surveys, pilot groups and Long-Term Care Home committees.
  • Work on projects that will benefit residents in care.
  • Network with other Family Councils at their regional association of family councils’ forums to identify and address concerns that are systemic in their care homes and Long-Term Care Home community.

What Family Councils Do

Encourage and offer support

for one another; reducing sense of isolation, helplessness, and frustration.

01

Deepen relationships

between resident, family, and long-term care home staff by fostering mutual understanding and collaborative conversation.

02

Problem Solve

Identify issues, deliver potential solutions and celebrate successes where ideas have worked, and improvements have been made.

03

Advocate

for continuous quality improvement within each long-term care home and the long-term care system by taking part in regional and provincial conversations.

04

Communicate and Educate

about the care home (policies, procedures, care team, etc.); about issues relating to residents (dementia, diabetes food recreational activities etc.); and about the long-term care system in BC.

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