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Family councils have achieved many successes in their advocacy that
has resulted in higher quality care and improved quality of life
for residents. Though the structure may differ from council to council,
councils have succeeded because strong, smart individuals came together
over concerns for individual residents, as well as for all residents
at their nursing home. Some councils work with staff in a collaborative
way. Many others work independently without staff involvement.
Some of the successes councils
have achieved are:
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Developing a grievance procedure for visitors, whereby the complaint
is tracked by the council and forwarded to the administration.
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Creating informational pamphlets with key information and resources,
including family council contacts, that are distributed to families
and friends shortly after admission of the resident.
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Increasing the amount on linens in a home where there was a constant
shortage of linens and towels that resulted in the home violating
minimum state regulations on the amount of linen required.
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Replacing an entire recreation area floor that was broken and
had dangerous floor tiles that posed a hazard to residents.
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Repairing broken ice machines on units that jeopardized the health
of the dialysis residents on the units.
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Reinstating a policy of providing microwaves on units in a nursing
home that had previously forbid it; resulting in an increase in
visitor participation in the care of residents.
For more information on change that family and friends councils can
work for go to the Culture
Change & Best practices
section of our website.
IF . . .
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Your home has a family and friends' organization but you wish
it did more to improve care or to express relatives' concerns.
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You are a family organization leader and want to meet leaders
from other homes.
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You want to learn about public issues that affect nursing home
residents.
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Your home does not have a family and friends' organization but
you would like to start one or meet others who are considering
starting one.
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You are a social worker supporting a family and friends' organization
and want a speaker, information, strategies or support.
Federal
and New York State Regulations allow family and friends' the right
to meet together with other families and residents in the facility.
They also require the "facility to listen to the views of this group
and act upon their grievances and recommendations". Unfortunately,
they do not require nursing homes to have a family and friends council.
However, the new family council legislation that the governor
signed into law goes far beyond these regulations.
Click
here for details about the new Family Council Law
Click
here to read the law text
Family
Council Rights
According to New York State Regulations, Title 10, §415.5 (c);
1. A resident's family shall have the right to meet in the facility
with families of other residents in the facility;
2. The facility shall provide a resident or family group, if one
exists, with private space;
3. Staff and visitors shall be allowed to attend meetings at the
group's invitation;
4. The facility shall provide a designated staff person responsible
for providing assistance and responding to written requests that
result from group meetings;
When a resident or family group exists, the facility shall listen
to the views and act upon the grievances and recommendations of
residents and families concerning proposed policy and operational
decisions affecting resident care and life in the facility.
Call
FRIA at (212) 732-5667 to learn more about organizing family and
friends councils. |
