The resident council is a gathering where residents can talk and plan over their concerns about the care they are getting. They are organized to give residents a voice to discuss concerns, suggest changes, and plan for social activities.

Nursing home staffs work hard ---and sometimes they get so busy that the wants and needs of residents gets lost in the hurly-burly. The resident council is a gathering where residents can talk and plan over their concerns about the care they are getting.

Resident Council concerns and ideas must be acknowledged and acted upon in some way by the facility, per federal law. This can have a huge impact on the quality of life for the residents - all directed/requested by the residents.

How a Resident Council Is Structured
Residents of the nursing home hold meetings and decide on the issues. Someone from the facility management acts as a liaison, and is required to answer written requests that come from the council meetings.

• The resident council improves communications by airing concerns in a public forum. This discourages rumors and mis-information.
• They identify problems and give a sounding board to new ideas.
• Help individuals speak out about concerns and help overcome fear of retaliation. Some people fear that they may make others so angry that care will be withheld.

How to Start A Resident Council
Contact your area's Long Term Care Ombudsman. They understand that residents may or may not know how to begin and what is involved in running an effective council. Our web page Contact Your Long Term Care Ombudsman has a list of contact information for the Ombudsman in each state.