A resident council is an independent group of nursing home residents who meet periodically to discuss concerns and suggestions in the home and to plan activities that are important to them. Residents decide how often they wish to meet. This could be weekly, monthly, or whatever the residents deem appropriate. Many resident councils also form short-term committees to work on specific issues or projects.
A large home might hold smaller resident council meetings on individual neighborhoods, or there might be one large meeting for all residents.
Resident councils are structured in various ways, but usually every resident living in a home is an automatic member of the council. Residents vote to choose the President and Vice President (or Chairperson and Vice Chairperson).
All residents have a right to attend resident council meetings. However, it might surprise you to learn that anyone else is there only by invitation from the residents. The resident council has the right to meet alone and run the meetings by themselves.
That being said, a staff liaison usually attends the meetings. Another person you might see at a resident council meeting is a long term care ombudsman. This person can help facilitate problem-solving. They also provide education regarding rules and regulations, resident rights, and other long term care topics.
Let's Talk Nursing Home Resident Rights
The Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program has created a tool to help start conversations about important nursing home topics. Each guide will focus on a different topic and has multiple uses. The guide can be used during resident council meetings or by staff at the nursing home to help empower and educate residents and staff.