Family Councils
              A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Family council organizing is becoming a national trend.  Across the country, providers are beginning to recognize the valuable role that independent family organizations can play in their facilities. The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR), a Washington, DC advocacy group, has decided to increase its involvement in promoting family councils across the country.  Through NCCNHR, FRIA staff met advocates from Florida, Texas, and North Carolina where  family councils are playing an increasingly significant role in their states' efforts to improve nursing homes.

The family council movement is also growing because of pressure from accreditation and oversight bodies who want to find ways to gauge consumer satisfaction. The  accreditation process from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO),  for example, encourages nursing homes to have family councils.

This is an ideal time for families to step up their organizing efforts.  In New York City, FRIA is already working with existing or fledgling councils at 30 nursing homes. These councils are making concrete improvements in their homes, persuading administrators, for example, to expand recreation programs so that activities reflect the interests of a home's culturally diverse population, to increase weekend staffing and to post organizational charts and shift supervision so families can easily identify appropriate staff to resolve care problems. Is your nursing home part of this exciting movement?  This national and local attention makes it easier than ever to participate.

Getting Started?  Need support for an existing Council?
Building a strong, independent Family Council doesn't have to be difficult. FRIA now has a full-time Family Council Project Coordinator and offers:

• How to Start a Family Council presentations
• Written resources, including a Family Council Start-Up Packet
• Workshops to help established leaders strengthen their Council's advocacy efforts, build their organization, and run more effective meetings.
• Ongoing telephone support for new and experienced leaders.

Contact Lauren Pareti 212-732-4899 for more information.


FAMILY COUNCIL LEADERS MEETING

February 11, 1999 6:00 PM
This meeting will bring members of different councils together to work on common issues.  Refreshments will be served.  Call Lauren Pareti for the midtown location at 212-732-4899.

The family council movement is also .growing because of pressure from accreditation and oversight bodies who want to find ways to gauge consumer satisfaction. The accreditation process from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO),  for example, encourages nursing homes to have family councils.
This is an ideal time for families to step up their organizing efforts.  In New York City, FRIA is already working with existing or fledgling .councils at 30 nursing homes.These councils are making concrete improvements in their homes, persuading administrators, for example, to expand recreation programs so that activities reflect the interests of a home's culturally diverse population, to increase weekend staffing and to post  rganizational charts and shift supervision so families can easily identify appropriate staff to resolve care problems.
Is your nursing home part of this exciting movement?  This national .and local attention makes it easier than ever to participate.