Assisted Living Resident Council
A resident council is an organized group of residents who meet regularly to discuss and address concerns about their rights, quality of care and quality of life. As of August 1, 2021 people living in an assisted living have the right to organize and participate in a resident council.
Minnesota state law includes the following requirements for resident councils:
- The assisted living must provide a resident council with space and privacy for meetings, where doing so is reasonably achievable.
- The assisted living must take reasonable steps, with the approval of the resident council, to make residents and family members aware of upcoming meetings in a timely manner.
- Staff, visitors, and other guests may attend a resident council meeting only at the council's invitation.
- The assisted living must designate a staff person who is approved by the resident council to be responsible for providing assistance and responding to written requests that result from meetings.
- The assisted living must consider the views of the resident council and must respond promptly to the grievances and recommendations of the council, but a facility is not required to implement as recommended every request of the council.
Benefits of a Resident Council
Resident councils offer a forum for people living in assisted living to become educated about their rights and how to effectively exercise rights. The council serves as a sounding board for solutions to shared problems, to initiate new ideas, and to communicate with the facility administrator and staff.
Assisted Living 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.
- A family council may include family members, friends, or representatives of residents.
- The assisted living must provide a family council with space and privacy for meetings, where doing so is reasonably achievable.
- The assisted living must take reasonable steps, with the approval of the family council, to make residents and family members aware of upcoming meetings in a timely manner.
- The assisted living must designate a staff person who is approved by the family council to be responsible for providing assistance and responding to written requests that result from meetings.
- The assisted living must consider the views of the family council and must respond promptly to the grievances and recommendations of the council, but a facility is not required to implement as recommended every request of the council.
Resources
