Ombudsman family/caregiver council resources
By Jane Danner | January 31, 2025 | All members
On January 15, 2025, the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (OOLTC) published the following GovDelivery: “Caregivers and Family Councils.” The following article can be utilized in your newsletter to verify your due diligence in offering a family council. Additionally, see the link below for council manuals and tip sheets.
The Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care works collaboratively with self-identified caregivers and persons of support. Caregivers dedicate countless hours to the person they support and the long-term care community. A great way to connect with other caregivers within the community is by getting involved in a family council. A family council meets regularly to discuss and address concerns about resident rights, quality of care, and quality of life. Families have the right to organize and participate in a family council in both skilled nursing and assisted living settings.
Some benefits include:
- Connecting and learning from others
- Fostering a trusting relationship between persons of support and facility staff
- A place to proactively discuss and consolidate common concerns that impact residents
- Creating council-sponsored events for residents
To learn more, you can reach out to the administrator within your long-term care community to see if they have a family council. If a long-term care community doesn’t currently have a council, consider starting one! Consider using our
online resources to help with creating and maintaining a family council.
Our office has Council Support Specialists ready to support families in developing and/or strengthening family councils. Get connected with a Council Specialist by calling our main intake number at 1-800-657-3591.
Jane Danner | Director of Regulatory Services |
jdanner@careproviders.org | 952-851-2489