The Long-Term Care Homes Act: Beyond Sections 59-68
Par Family Councils Ontario
This is the last blog post in our 'Understand the Act' series. So far we've covered a few key points to keep in mind regarding the Act, Powers of a Family Council, and Long-Term Care Annual Inspection Council Preparation. This week, we're turning our attention to the must know items outside of the Family Council & General Council sections of the Act.
In Section 3, the Residents Bill of Rights, the Act states:
"17. Every resident has the right to raise concerns or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others to the following persons and organizations without interference and without fear of coercion, discrimination or reprisal, whether directed at the resident or anyone else,
ii. the Family Council"
You also need to be involved in developing and revising the Home's Mission Statement: "the licensee shall ensure that the mission statement is developed, and revised as necessary, in collaboration with the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any, and shall invite the staff of the long-term care home and volunteers to participate. 2007, c. 8, s. 4 (3)."
"At least once every five years after a mission statement is developed, the licensee shall consult with the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any, as to whether revisions are required, and shall invite the staff of the long-term care home and volunteers to participate. 2007, c. 8, s. 4 (4)."
If you don't currently have any information about your Council in the Admission Package, you can also do that as the Act that the package of information must contain: "information about the Family Council, if any, including any information that may be provided by the Family Council for inclusion in the package, or, if there is no Family Council, any information provided for in the regulations 2007, c. 8, ss. 78 (2)
Legislation related to the posting of information outlines that:
"79. (1) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that the required information is posted in the home, in a conspicuous and easily accessible location in a manner that complies with the requirements, if any, established by the regulations. 2007, c. 8, s. 79 (1).
Communication
(2) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that the required information is communicated, in a manner that complies with any requirements that may be provided for in the regulations, to residents who cannot read the information. 2007, c. 8, s. 79 (2).
Required information
(3) The required information for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) is,
(o) the most recent minutes of the Family Council meetings, if any, with the consent of the Family Council; "
The Satisfaction Survey is an important aspect of the Home for the Council to be involved in:
"85. (1) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that, at least once in every year, a survey is taken of the residents and their families to measure their satisfaction with the home and the care, services, programs and goods provided at the home. 2007, c. 8, s. 85 (1).
Action
(2) A licensee shall make every reasonable effort to act on the results of the survey and to improve the long-term care home and the care, services, programs and goods accordingly. 2007, c. 8, s. 85 (2).
Advice
(3) The licensee shall seek the advice of the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any, in developing and carrying out the survey, and in acting on its results. 2007, c. 8, s. 85 (3).
Documentation
(4) The licensee shall ensure that,
(a) the results of the survey are documented and made available to the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any, to seek their advice under subsection (3);
(b) the actions taken to improve the long-term care home, and the care, services, programs and goods based on the results of the survey are documented and made available to the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any;"
Following up on last week's blog post, "Where an inspection is required under section 143, the inspector may meet with the Residents’ Council or the Family Council, if requested or permitted to do so by the Council. 2007, c. 8, s. 145." and "149. (1) After completing an inspection, an inspector shall prepare an inspection report and give a copy of the report to the licensee and to the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any. 2007, c. 8, s. 149 (1). (2) Where the inspection is required under section 143, the inspector shall prepare a summary of the inspection report and provide it to the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any. 2007, c. 8, s. 149 (2)."
For more information on the Act, check out our Resources and review the Act online: http://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/07l08
Stay tuned for next month's theme and blog posts!