We used social media to connect and discover Vancouver Island Association of Family Councils (VIAFC).  Vancouver Island already had formed an association of family councils. VIAFC educated family members on the purpose and positive benefits of independent family councils in long-term care homes. 

In 1921 and as a result of this connection, our family members, now resident advocates  in the VCH region, formed the Vancouver Coastal Association of family council (VCAFC). Our  regional association of family councils exists to serve its long-term care home residents by promoting independent councils (both resident and family councils). VCAFC supports the start up, maintenance and acts as a resource ongoing for councils. Also, VCAFC serves to elevate the voices of resident and family councils through sharing at regional forums and then, again, at the provincial level.

There is one regional association of family councils (RAFC) in each of the 5 health authorities.

Together, the 5 RAFC make up the recently registered non-profit Society entitled:  Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC). ILTCCABC is the provincial association of family councils.

VCAFC’s goal is to ensure every long-term careH in VCH is offered the opportunity to learn about family councils, to form a family council, and to offer their council a voice at the regional and provincial level.

All of our volunteers have had lived experience with someone we care about in long-term care. VCAFC cares about resident quality of life.  VCAFC seeks to be educated on the many issues of aging, as well as what advances allow us  to consider improving quality of life in long-term care.

Vancouver Coastal Association of family council (VCAFC) is composed of independent family councils from across Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.  We are families, friends, and representatives (companions and legal representatives) of residents. All of us have or have had lived experience with someone we care about in long-term care.

VCAFC exists for the sake of the collective voice of our residents, and we raise their issues and ideas in order to contribute to continuous quality improvement of the resident experience. VCAFC seeks to educate our family councils on the many issues of aging, as well as what advances allow us to consider improving quality of life in long-term care.