Background of Interior Association of Family Council

In 2009 and 2012, the BC Ombudsperson issued two reports, The Best of Care: Getting it Right for Seniors in British Columbia (Parts 1 and 2), the Ombudsperson’s systemic investigation into the care of seniors in B.C.  The first report included ten recommendations made to the then Ministry of Health Services and Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport in the following areas: rights for seniors in residential care; access to information about residential care; and the role of resident and family councils.  

In the Ombudsperson's report, it was noted that Family Councils can play a key roles in promoting improved communication and collaboration between family members and facility staff, and management. Family Councils can also identify common systemic problems before they become crisis. In the Ombudsperson's report, the recommendation was that the Ministry of Health Services and the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport support the establishment and development of regional family council organizations. 

In December 2009 a Residents’ Bill of Rights was added to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and Residential Care Regulations, as well as the Hospital Act for residents in private hospital and extended care facilities, which included Resident's rights: "c) to have his or her family or representative participate on a resident or family council on their own behalf." 

In 2010, the first Regional Association of Family Councils (Vancouver Island-VIAFC) was formed, who began advocating to the Ministry of Health to implement the recommendations of the Ombudsperson's report, with their Proposal for Change. A key point in the Proposal for Change document was that despite the Ombudsperson's recommendations, and the Resident's Bill of Rights statement, some LTC facility management continued to discourage (with some even refusing to allow for) the organization of Family Councils. 

The Home and Community Care Manual (2019) adopted some of the recommendations of the Ombudsperson's report, including then: "H) Health Authorities shall encourage opportunities for resident/family councils to participate in regional education and networking opportunities". 

Between 2014 and 2021, Vancouver Island Association of Family Councils had supported and  mentored emerging Family Councils in other regions who had needed assistance establishing Family Councils, and who still were often encountering push-back from facilities. 

In 2021, advocates for Family Councils across BC, led by Vancouver Island Association of Family Councils, began the work of establishing individual regional Associations of Family Councils in all Health Authorities in BC. 

On November 3, 2022 the Provincial Government announced enhancements to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Residential Care Regulation,  enhancing supports for Family Council, and created two new categories of Councils to promote and facilitate communication between local councils (Resident, Family and Resident and Family Councils), health authorities and the Ministry of Health.  

• Regional Resident & Family Council Networks (RRFCN “Regional Councils”): Regional Resident and Family Council Networks (Regional Councils) are Health Authority-led regional meetings of local council representatives where participants meet to discuss successes, common issues of concern, share experiences, problem solve and develop and implement broad regional solutions.
• Provincial Resident and Family Councils B.C. (RFCBC): The Resident and Family Councils BC (RFCBC) is a provincial group, accountable to the BC Ministry of Health, at which the Regional Council co-chairs, Health Authority Long-term Care leadership and Ministry of Health Licensing leadership meet to discuss systemic issues and proposed system change.

Interior Association of Family Councils encourages local LTC Councils to proactively participate in these two new, and very important, Councils that elevate voices from local and regional councils to the BC’s Minister of Health.

Our volunteer members, with lived experience, offer mentorship and support to both new and existing Resident Councils, Resident & Family Councils and/or Family Councils. 

Interior Association of Family Councils hosts virtual Roundtable sessions regularly. where we strive to enhance local Family Council representatives effectiveness as participants in the Regional Resident & Family Council network and as Family Council leaders.