Family councils work with residents to get results
Wednesday February 13, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
Family councils can go a long way in benefiting the lives of residents in long-term care homes, and engaging residents at meetings helps the family council at Streamway Villa meet its objectives, says council president Nancy Linton.

Like many other family councils, Linton says it’s a struggle to attract and maintain members at the Cobourg long-term care home. Currently, Streamway’s family council consists of three core members. At each council meeting these family members are joined by between five and 10 residents who provide insight into residents needs.

“They can have some input and then we can promote what they want, which is not always what we think they want,” says Linton. “You can get some programs started that will benefit your family member.”

The first family council meeting in the home’s history was held Nov. 14, 2006. Linton, whose mother was a resident at the home, was compelled to get a council started after hearing a speech a few months previous from Do’ Furness, family council president at Springdale Country Manor in Peterborough, about the important role family councils play in the lives of residents.

Although her mother passed away in December, Linton intends on remaining active in the family council.

Having sat on school councils when her children were small, Linton experienced first-hand how individuals can make a difference in the lives of family members. With this determination in mind, she set out to form a council at the home.

Streamway’s family council is often involved with fundraising activities. Linton and her sister recently made a quilt, which was raffled off along with other items at an auction two weeks ago at the home. The auction fetched about $1,000 which will be put towards starting a tuck shop to sell pop and snacks to residents at the home.

This is one of many accomplishments family council has had in the 15 months since it was formed.

“We have helped take some of the residents on outings and when the OMNI van comes there are always a few of us who volunteer to go on the outings with them,” says Linton.