Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services
Get Involved
Residents' Councils
Residents' Councils
Residents' Councils are truly important and make significant contributions in the quality of life for all residents within the home. Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services are extremely fortunate to have active, engaged, and enthusiastic Residents' Councils in each of our ten homes.
We have worked hard to establish and maintain meaningful, strategic, and open partnerships with residents. We offer ongoing and continued support and a respectful environment where resident participation in the life of the home is truly valued. Combined, this enables the Residents' Councils to feel empowered.
By virtue of being a resident of the home, all residents are members of the Residents' Council and are encouraged and welcomed to attend and actively participate in the Residents' Council. Residents' Council are provided with support from the home to form, organize and maintain administrative matters, as required. All Residents' Councils meet on a regular schedule throughout the year. Some Residents' Councils are less formal in nature, while others have elected to establish an Executive Committee that presides over the meetings of the Resident's Council. All have a President or Chairperson or a representative who also is invited to participate in the home's Advisory Committee, which provides an additional opportunity to influence and reflect what is important to residents' residing in the home.
If you are not able to attend the meeting of the Residents' Council, the minutes are posted and available for you to read, and we would encourage you to take a moment to review them and see what type of activities the Residents' Council has been engaged in.
We encourage and invite you to consider attending meetings of the Residents' Council in your home. Consider sharing your talent, skills and expertise (or develop new ones) - meet other residents, make new friends, learn more about the home and long-term care - and take advantage of an opportunity for some fun along the way!
Purpose of the Residents' Councils
The purpose of the Residents' Council is:
- to provide a forum for the residents to have input and to advocate on their collective behalf concerning the operations of the home;
- to provide the residents with a voice in decisions that affect them and their quality of life in the home;
- to establish two-way communication between the residents and the home staff, and to establish a formal mechanism whereby Residents' Council concerns are communicated to administration for intervention and resolution;
- to provide a means of mutual support for Residents' Council members, which extends to new residents in the home;
- to allow residents to be informed about the long-term care system as a whole and to provide a forum for discussion about strategies for improvement; and
- to promote and encourage activities directed at the provision of quality care and quality of life for residents.
Some of the accomplishments of the Residents' Councils'
The Residents' Councils in the 10 homes have made many positive contributions to the quality of life for all residents through their planning, activities and advocacy efforts. Some key accomplishments have included:
- Organizing different welcoming activities and approaches for new residents
- Facilitating and hosting special events in the home and participating in the planning for gala events
- Promoting events that contributes to resident information, awareness and education related to topics such as safety, fire safety, zero tolerance for abuse, least use of restraints, infection prevention and control, falls prevention, healthy eating, etc.
- Organizing health promotion and educational events for resident in the home, sometimes with guest speakers
- Organizing special fundraising events that supports enhanced resident activities and programs
- Participating in resident dining experience that has positively influenced and enhanced their dining experience
- Receiving and reviewing proposed menu changes
- Developing strong linkages between the Residents' Council, the Home Advisory Committee and administration.
Just for you... Improving Care and Services: contacting your Residents' Council
We recognize that some residents may be uncomfortable raising an idea, issue or concern at a meeting of the Residents' Council or may be unable to attend due to other obligations. Alternatives are available. We encourage you to correspond with the Residents' Council in your home by using the "Just for you.Improving care and services: contacting your Residents' Council" brochure. The brochure and secured drop-off box is conveniently located near the resident communication centre in the home. Our managers all have "open door" policies - feel free to drop in. We also invite you to communicate directly with our Resident - Client Advocate if this is a more comfortable means of communication for you. We are here to help.
Ontario Association of Residents' Councils
All of the Residents' Councils at the Toronto Long-Term Care have full membership in the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC), and this membership certificate is proudly displayed in each of the homes.
Contact information for the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils is:
351 Christie Street
Toronto, ON M5G 3C3
Tel: 416 535-3718
Fax: 416 535-0055
Toll Free: 1-800-532-0201
E-mail: oarc@idirect.com
Website: www.residentscouncils.ca