Everything's great! I know who to talk to about a concern, so why do we need a Family Council?
by Family Councils Ontario
Getting a Family Council started and recruiting new people are common challenges across LTC Homes in Ontario.
Sometimes the challenge has to do with finding people who are willing and able to take on a leadership position on the Council. Other times it's a matter of building a team of people with the right skills and perspectives that will enable the group to build consensus and carry out projects successfully.
Sometimes the challenge is finding the right motivation for starting a Council. What will spark people to want to spend their valuable free time volunteering for the Council? We've heard people say "My mom is really happy here. I know all the staff and they take wonderful care of her. The food is great and the activities are so fun! When there's an issue I know who to talk to and they take care of it. So, why do we need a Family Council?" Those are valid points, but a Family Council is so much more than just a venue for addressing concerns! While advocating on collective concerns and recommendations is an important aspect of a Family Council- and is one given to the Council by the Long-Term Care Homes Act- there is more to a Family Council.
Family Councils build community. They bring people together, people who share a common experience and who can support one another. That is the definition of peer support. Without a strong foundation of community and peer support, a Council wouldn't be able to address the issues that matter most to families. Maybe those issues have to do with addressing concerns. But if we broaden our scope and look at what else a Council can do, we see that community and support can be built and furthered in other ways.
All Family Councils share the same goal: to improve the quality of life of the residents of a LTC Home. Councils do this by addressing concerns, but they also hold events for residents. They support new families during the transition to LTC through holding New Family Welcome Teas or making Welcome Baskets. They show appreciation for staff through formal and informal staff appreciation. They help out on projects such as building a new gazebo, improving the patio, or sprucing up the bathing areas. They educate families through internal and external guest speakers, such as the Home's dietary manager or the local Alzheimer's Society. They provide a link between the Home and families in order to facilitate communication. All of these things make a difference in the lives of residents and their families. They are all valuable Family Council goals and activities.
So next time someone says to you that they're happy with the care their loved one is receiving and asks why they should form or join a Family Council, you can say "that's great to hear! But did you know all the other great things a Family Council can do? Let me tell you!"