All over the province, family councils are forming at residential facilities.

These councils, mandated by the provincial government at the suggestion of the ombudsperson鈥檚 office, are an important forum for friends and families of residents in long-term care to share their experiences, learn and exchange information.

They provide a valuable mechanism for dialogue, support, education and the processing of concerns. They provide an opportunity for two-way communication with staff at the care facility.

The issues raised range from concerns over system-wide communication to those of diet and food. The newly-formed The Views (ECU) Family Council quickly got to the heart of their concerns by prioritizing the issues they felt were most important and one-by-one they will begin to address them with the help of SJGH liaison, social worker, Leah Callio.

In an earlier speech to a meeting of the Association for Care Reform, Carly Hyman of the ombudsperson鈥檚 office, stated that across the province people are concerned about low staffing levels at long-term care facilities. If there aren鈥檛 enough staff on the floor, then there is more likelihood of neglect, more accidents happening and low staff morale.

Information about current staffing levels is difficult to clarify. For example, in staffing ratios are physiotherapists included with registered nurses, long-term care aides and recreation staff?

鈥淭he new family council at The Views is excited about the possibility of working with the staff to effect positive changes,鈥� say Tim Rabbitt and Ann Zanbilowicz, co-chairs of the council at St. Joseph's General Hospital in Comox. 鈥淲e believe that a well-functioning family council helps not only the residents and their families but also supports the care staff in delivering high-quality care.鈥�

The Views Family Council meets on the last Thursday of every month after Family Night, at 7:45 p.m. downstairs in the SJGH cafeteria meeting room (Conference Room B).

鈥� Views Family Council