Promotes awareness about and the benefits of Family Councils and Resident Councils operating in LTC homes in the region.
Provides support and advice to existing and emerging councils.
Promotes understanding and awareness of the Residential Care Regulations, Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Home and Community Care Policy Manual and other relevant statutes, regulations, policies and procedures.
Advocates on regional systemic issues (where many LTC homes in the northern region have the same issue).
Delegates/votes in 3 representatives to attend and represent NAFC at the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC) monthly meetings.
NAFC can assist emerging or existing councils:
Providing guidance to start a council.
Providing mentoring, support, tools and resources.
Assisting with troubleshooting at it relates to specific issues.
Local councils may also bring issues to regional councils to determine whether issues are site specific in nature, or regional in nature.
If the latter, they can address regional concerns with the local Health Authority.
NAFC can assist LTC home operators, residents and their families to establish a resident and/or family council by:
presenting at a town hall where residents, their families and representatives are invited to attend to learn about their legislated right to form a resident and/or family council.
informing residents and families about the regulations that pertain to the operations of councils in long term care homes and the importance and benefits of forming a council.
facilitating a Q & A after the presentation and offering to work with residents and families who are interested in taking the next steps to establish a council.
NAFC provides educational materials to help council members understand the LTC system:
Roles and responsibilities of the LTC division of the Ministry of Health and the Health Authorities.
LTC home operators contracted and funded by the Health Authority to provide publicly subsidized resident beds within their owned premises. These are For-Profit and Not-For Profit owner operators.
LTC homes that are Health Authority owned and operated.
Fully Private LTC home operators (no publicly subsidized resident beds).
Community Care Facilities Licensing.
Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO) and Review Board.
How to file a complaint to the LTC home operator, to Licensing or the Patient Care Quality Office.