Forum Discussion

Hi Charlene, I've held a resident council, and it sounds like a community circle would be similar. Ours was held once a month, I would suggest inviting a number of your more talkative, and active residents to join. Follow through is important. For instance, in one resident council meeting, the majority of the residents complained that the soup choices (split pea and Italian wedding) were getting old, so we brought it to the dining staff, and they changed up the menu. After this win, our meetings became more productive and the residents felt more empowered. Oh, and I was just the facilitator in these meetings and took the notes we tried to encourage that it was a resident-led group.

I absolutely love this concept. In Leisure & Health we focus offering choice related to person-centered activities....... this should of course be extended to person-centered life. Why on earth do we still choose menu,
furnishings, garden design. So much to be proposed in honoring choice across their entire social setting and empowering. Good onya, another great forum of thought and perspective.

Hi Carol
Thank you for sharing your comments

In our Resident Council meeting we have a standing agenda of departmental updates from the homes leadership; nursing, environmental services, food service and recreation. Our residents love to discuss food and upcoming activities and their thoughts and ideas for improvement. One thing I like to do is have the residents choose a number between 1 and 27 to discuss one of our 27 Residents' Rights (in Ontario, Canada.) We then talk about the right and if the residents have any suggests for improvement or words of encouragement for the staff if they feel that the staff adhere to the right as outlined. This always sparks lots of interaction and participation.

Thank you for sharing this information Cynthia