Nursing Home Family Council
Facilities certified for Medicare and Medicaid must provide a meeting space, cooperate with the council's activities, and respond to the group's concerns. Nursing facilities must appoint a staff advisor or liaison to the family council, staff and administrators have access to council meetings only by invitation.
While the federal law specifically references "families" of residents, close friends of residents can and should be encouraged to play an active role in family councils, too.
Specifically, the federal law includes the following requirements on family councils
(a) A resident’s family has the right to meet in the facility with the families of other residents in the facility.
(b) The facility must provide a family group, if one exists, with private space.
(c) Staff or visitors may attend meetings at the group’s invitation.
(d) The facility must provide a designated staff person responsible for providing assistance and responding to written requests that result from group meetings.
(e) When a family group exists, the facility must listen to the views and act upon the grievances and recommendation of residents and families concerning proposed policy and operational decisions affecting resident care and life in the facility.
If you are interested in forming a family council and need more information, please contact your local long term care ombudsman or your State's Ombudsman.
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