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A resident council is an independent, organized group of persons living in a nursing home who meet on a regular basis to discuss concerns, develop suggestions and plan activities.

Sizes and structures of councils vary widely. Some resident councils function well with up to 50 residents at meetings. Others are effective with only a few active members. Leadership styles vary as does the amount of resident participation.

The lives pf nursing home residents are heavily controlled by laws, rules and policies set by the government and the nursing home. Compromises in life styles become necessary due to health problems and the close quarters in which the residents live. These compromises and controls can make nursing home residents feel like their opinions and preferences do not matter.

Many nursing home residents are not content to give up control over their lives. They want an active role in life and the chance to influence decisions which affect them. A resident council gives them that chance.

• Improve communications within their homes. They are known as places to get the facts and can help dispel rumors.

• Help identify problems early which make it easier to do something about them in a timely fashion. They are important part of the grievance process and help avoid the necessity of discussing problems with outside sources.

• Serve as a sounding board for new ideas.

• Help individuals speak out about what’s bothering them and help overcome fear of retaliation. When people are dependent on others for their needs, there is fear that they may make others so angry that care will be withheld. Resident Councils lessen the fear, because speaking up as a group is easier than as an individual.

• Improve the atmosphere of the homes where they are active. The staff appreciates having residents share in some of the responsibilities of planning activities and events.

• Promote friendship by working in small groups that meet regularly. Residents have a chance to get to know each other well in this type of a setting.

Yes. Michigan and Federal laws give residents the right to meet as a council. At the time of admission, nursing homes are required to inform new residents of their right to establish a council if one does not exist or to participate in the activities of a council which is already operating. The home must also provide space for meetings and give assistance to residents who need help getting to the meetings.

Councils have the right to meet privately or to invite members of the home’s staff, relatives, friends, or members of community organizations to participate in the meetings. The home must designate a staff person to serve as liaison to the council, to attend council meetings if requested, and to provide needed support services and assistance, such as typing of minutes and correspondence.

The structure of a resident council can be the key to its success. The size of the home and the abilities and needs of the residents are important factors to consider in selecting a structure.

In small homes, residents councils are frequently operated as open meetings for all interested residents. There may be a steering committee to help plan meeting agendas and to follow up on decisions made by the council.

Larger homes often have councils made up of representatives either elected or recruited from different sections of the facility. Council representatives are responsible for seeking the concerns and suggestions of residents in their area and for bringing this information to the meetings.

If you need more information about resident councils, please contact your local ombudsman. An excellent guide to organizing and operating a resident council, "Resident Councils in Action," has been written by the Minnesota Alliance for Health Care Consumers. It is available for $15.00 by writing the Alliance office at 5609 Lyndale Avenue, South Minneapolis, MN 55419 or telephone (612) 866-4373.

Rev: 92, 96, 97, 98, 99, 03/00, 04/04