CANHR
Fact Sheets:
Family Councils
One of the best ways to improve nursing home care is to organize and
participate in a family council. A family council is an organized group
of relatives and friends of residents who meet regularly to discuss and
address concerns about quality of care in the nursing home.
Purpose of a Family Council
The primary purpose of a family council is for families, as a group,
to influence the quality of residents' care. Whatever affects the residents'
lives is a proper concern of the family council, whether it's the atmosphere
of the facility, the role of the medical director, the day-to-day care,
respect for resident rights or the activity program.
Family councils are not merely "gripe" sessions. An effective family
council allows its members to meet without facility staff (and thus, without
fear of retaliation), share concerns, and submit the group's concerns
in writing to the administrator.
By presenting a united voice with mutual concerns, members need not
fear being isolated and threatened, and they can address the problems
of all residents, rather than
a few. Family councils help prevent problems and guide members on how
to assert their rights and seek action on legitimate complaints.
Benefits of a Family Council
Family councils offer a forum to communicate with the facility staff.
Facility staff should be invited to specific meetings at specific times
to discuss specific concerns. For example, if one concern involves dietary
issues, invite the dietician to talk to the council, answer questions
and address these concerns. It's always better to have the staff on your
side, if possible, since they are the ones who provide the direct care.
Family council members benefit directly from sharing information, support
and encouragement. By working together to solve problems, families feel
less isolated and powerless.
Family Council Rights
California has the strongest protections and laws for family councils
in the nation! In January 2001, SB 1551 (Dunn) became law. This law added
significant rights for family councils in California nursing homes and
new obligations for facilities with regard to family councils.
- Family councils shall be allowed to meet in a common room of the facility
at least once a month.
- The facility must designate a staff person who is responsible for
providing assistance and responding to written requests that result from
family council meetings.
- The facility must respond to written requests or concerns of the family
council within 10 days.
- The facility must provide the council with adequate space to post
notices, minutes, newsletters or other information pertaining to the
operation or interest of the family council.
- The facility shall include notices of the family council meetings
in quarterly mailings, and shall inform family members and representatives
of new residents of the council's existence and of the time, place and
date of meetings.
- Facilities are prohibited from willfully interfering with the formation,
maintenance or promotion of a family council. "Willful interference"
includes discrimination, retaliation or the willful scheduling of events
in conflict with a previously scheduled family council meeting.
- Violation of the law can result in a citation and penalty of up to
$1,000.
Getting Organized
Organizing a family council
can seem like a big job but it does not have to be. It is usually
best to keep organizing activities simple. To get started, take
these steps:
- Recruit a few like-minded family members to plan and sponsor a first
meeting;
- Meet with the administrator to make arrangements and seek cooperation;
and
- Publicize the meeting.
It is a good idea to involve the residents in the meeting. Make interested
residents feel welcome. Their voices are the ones that seldom get heard.
Although the council will need to select leaders at some point, it is
very common for this process to be informal at first while family members
are getting to know one another.
Contact CANHR to get more detailed information about planning and promoting
family council meetings, seeking administrative support from the nursing
home and setting up a leadership structure. Learn from the experience
and success of others!
Communicating Concerns
If there are many concerns about the facility, the family council must
choose its battles wisely. It is unrealistic to expect all of your concerns
to be dealt with at once. Lay out the issues and then prioritize. Select
a concern or two of direct importance to residents, or choose less serious
issues first, and see how the administrator responds. The issues and/or
concerns should be agreed upon at the end of the meeting, and the format
and tone of conveying the message should be agreed upon.
Put your message in writing! If you don't put it in writing, don't expect
a timely response. It should be directed to the administrator or the staff
liaison. Be concise and direct. Give examples of the problem without using
residents' names.
Information and Support
Supporting family councils is a top CANHR priority! CANHR staff members
are available to answer your questions, make suggestions and meet with
your council.
CANHR has great information to help you plan and organize your family
council. A booklet, Organizing
Family Councils in Long Term Care Facilities, gives helpful organizing
suggestions and includes a sample letter to the administrator, minutes
and a recommendation form. Another valuable resource is CANHR's video:
Family Councils: Making a Difference.
Free for those involved in organizing family councils, it shows how families
can create change in nursing homes.
To download or order these materials, visit the "Family
Councils" section of the CANHR website, or call us at 800-474-1116.
CANHR also offers a wealth of information on residents' rights, nursing
home care standards, facility performance, Medi-Cal and other important
topics. Visit our website, or call us for publication information.
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