Introducing the nursing home to ‘family councils’

Today, guest poster Karlin Mbah, of the New York-based organization Friends and Relatives of the Institutionalized Aged (FRIA), explains what “family councils” are and how they can work with nursing homes to improve care for the residents. In a later post, she’ll discuss ways to create a successful family council.

What is a family council?

Family councils can play a very important role in helping residents of a nursing home have good quality of care and quality of life. A typical family council is a group of committed families and friends of nursing home residents who work together to improve the quality of life for all residents in a particular facility. For simplicity, I will refer to family councils and their members as families, but friends, partners, significant others, and all regular caregivers participate equally in family councils and are included when I refer to “families.”

Family councils have the right to organize under the law. Under federal law, the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA ’87) recognizes that families are an important part of a nursing home community and serve as advocates for good care. The act guarantees families of nursing home residents the right to meet together in a facility and to be provided with space, privacy, and staff assistance if sought. Administrators are required to listen to, and act upon, the recommendations and grievances of family councils. Several states, including New York, have strengthened and empowered family councils by enacting laws that give additional rights and protections to councils, beyond those provided by federal law.

What do family councils do?

Family councils bring about positive change in nursing homes. The structure and activities of councils vary greatly, depending on their membership and the issues they decide to address. Some typical family council activities include:

· welcoming new families and friends to the nursing home

· offering support to each other

· raising concerns and complaints and working to resolve them

· providing education and information

· improving communications with the home

· arranging joint activities for families, friends, and residents

· recognizing staff for good work

· connecting to community resources

· speaking out on public issues

· taking the lead in bringing new models of long-term care to their communities, such as person-centered care, also known as culture change

Family councils allow a venue for families to address their concerns in a safe setting and get support for the resolution of these concerns. Nursing home staff attends family council meetings by invitation only and must respond to recommendations and grievances presented by the council. These recommendations and concerns can be made in the name of the group, thus providing anonymity to individuals and a united front of families working for better care.

Dr. Barbera is an author and a licensed psychologist consulting in long-term care facilities in the New York City area. She frequently lectures on subjects related to psychology, aging, and nursing homes. Dr. Barbera is available for private consulting with organizations, institutions, and individuals around eldercare issues. Visit her personal blog at www.mybetternursinghome.blogspot.com.

I Advance Senior Care

I Advance Senior Care is the industry-leading source for practical, in-depth, business-building, and resident care information for owners, executives, administrators, and directors of nursing at assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, post-acute facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. The I Advance Senior Care editorial team and industry experts provide market analysis, strategic direction, policy commentary, clinical best-practices, business management, and technology breakthroughs.

I Advance Senior Care is part of the Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care and published by Plain-English Health Care.