Nursing Home Residents' Rights Regarding Resident and Family Councils

Nursing home residents have the right to organize and participate in resident groups in the facility:
  • The facility must provide a resident group with private space.

  • Staff or visitors may attend meetings at the group's invitation only.

  • The facility must provide a designated staff person responsible for providing assistance and responding to written requests from the resident council.

  • The nursing home must listen to the views, and act upon the grievances and recommendations of a resident council, concerning policies affecting resident care and life in the facility.

A resident’s family has the right to meet in the facility with families of other residents. A nursing home may not prohibit the creation of a family council.
  • A family council may be made up of family members, friends, or representatives of residents.

  • The family council must be allowed to meet in a common meeting room of the nursing home at least once a month, and to meet in private without nursing home staff present.

  • Staff or visitors may attend family council meetings, at the group's invitation.

  • The nursing home is required to consider the views, and act upon the grievances and recommendations of a family council, concerning proposed policy and operational decisions affecting resident care and life in the facility.

  • The nursing home is required to respond within 10 working days to written requests or concerns of the family council.