Resident and Family Councils

Overview

The Resident and Family Councils Act came into effect on April 1, 2018.

The legislation gives residents and their families the right to establish self-governing councils at any long-term care and licensed supportive living facility that serves 4 or more people.

The legislation requires facility operators to make residents and their family aware of their right to establish a council. They must also respond to resident and family requests and concerns, provide information about resident and family councils and support the functioning of an active resident and family council.

Councils provide an opportunity for residents and families to discuss matters with agency or operator staff including:

• maintaining and enhancing residents' quality of life
• requests, concerns and solutions

Once a council has been established, operators or their representatives must provide support to the councils and attend meetings upon request.

Resources

Toolkit

This Toolkit is intended to help residents and families set up and maintain resident and family councils, by providing sample agendas, minute templates and describing steps to initiate a council. The toolkit is also a resource for operators in supporting resident and family councils.

Download the toolkit

Download toolkit sample templates (ZIP file, 223 KB)

Information guide

The information guide provides an overview of the Act to help operators of licensed supportive living accommodations, nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals understand what they need to do under the legislation.

• Read Resident and Family Councils Act Information Guide
• Requirements are found under sections 2 and 5 of the Act

Monitoring and public reporting

Compliance to the Resident and Family Councils Act will be monitored by the Ministry of Health, information regarding compliance to the act will be posted on the standards licensing and public reporting page.

Contact

For concerns or complaints related to the Resident and Family Councils Act:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 1-888-357-9339 (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-644-8729

Address:
Alberta Health
Attn: Compliance and Monitoring Branch
P.O. Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, AB T5J 2N3

If you have a general inquiry about resident and family councils, submit your question or message by phone or online on the contact government feedback page or contact Continuing Care.