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. 

Between 2009 and the current date the Ombudsperson's recommendations have been moved forward. On November 3, 2022 the Provincial Government announced enhancements to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Residential Care Regulation:

• enhancing supports for Resident and Family Council;
• creating  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. 

On April 2, 2024 BC issued Policy Directive - Long-Term Care Quality Framework. 

The Long-Term Care Quality Framework sets out the requirements for health authorities to monitor and evaluate the quality of LTC services in their region using indicators identified in the Framework and reported at the provincial level.  One of 13 quality indicators (sub-heading Respect) is the number of active Resident and Family Councils.  

Interior Association of Family Councils encourages local LTC Councils to proactively participate in the two new, and very important, Councils (Regional Councils and the RFCBC) 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, helping to advance the number of active Family Councils in the Interior Health Region. 

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