Residents’ Rights Regarding Resident and Family Councils

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.

For more information on how to file a complaint, please call (310) 394-9871, ext. 432 or email ombudsman@wiseandhealthyaging.org