Resident Councils Of Washington
The Resident Councils of WA seeks to empower citizens living in long term care residential care settings, to live their lives as fully as possible no matter where they live. One mechanism to achieve this is through participation in meaningful, dignified activities and to be able to meet collectively and privately to discuss issues of concern and recommendations for improving the quality of their lives in self organized resident councils.
Description:
The Resident Councils of Washington (RCW) is a partnership of residents living in long term care facilities, family members and friends, healthcare professionals and educators who recognize that disability and/or chronic illness does not mean inability, but rather to focus on the strengths of individuals to live their lives as fully as possible. RCW is the only independent consumer-based statewide organization in the USA which is governed for and by residents (citizens) living in LTC residential settings.
RCW is committed to achieving its mission by:
Providing a resident voice (whether collectively via resident councils or individually to provide input to:
facility administrative policies affecting the quality of their day to day lives/care; public policy issues (state and federal initiatives/regulations) affecting their quality of care and lives
Providing educational opportunities for residents and staff in topics such as: empowerment workshops planned for and by residents which address ways to increase resident communication and negotiation skills to motivate staff to address their care needs and ways to live their lives more fully; workshops aimed at strengthening effectiveness of residents councils; seminars and courses targeted toward enabling social service, activity and other LTC professionals to meet resident needs and facilitate resident council meetings
Partnering with other volunteers to assist with implementation of RCW mission: Work with local agencies which already are integrating with LTC residential settings, such as the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Alzheimer's Association, WA Senior Citizens Lobby, WA Area Agencies on Aging, nursing home associations, WA Activity Directors Association, WA Association of Social Workers and others; Resident volunteers serving on the RCW Board of Directors and numerous committees are the backbone of RCW.
History:
Why have the Resident Councils of Washington?
“I have my life back!” Most of us believe that when we lose hope we lose life. Most of us have a full life with our families, education, profession and extended families, but there are others of us that, due to no fault of our own, have health challenges that has thrown us a serious curve to our future, our living environment and our ability to continue to make a difference and contribute to our community.
In 1978, Ray Smith, the King County Coalition of Nursing Home Residents President, would not tolerate the inability of his friends to forfeit their decision-making ability. He would not tolerate poor care or lack of good nursing assistants in his nursing home and so he set out to make a difference helping to form a statewide Resident Council (presently the Resident Councils of Washington) that would help residents stand up for themselves, to educate our legislators on healthcare needs, to help his friends form their own community through the development and nurture of individual resident councils but more importantly give hope back to the individual now a resident in a nursing home.
Residents began and continue to address quality of care and life issues, community awareness of life from the residents’ perspective. Resident councils were established in homes and resident representation on various national, state and local policy boards became promoted and mandated. Residents began and continue to serve on the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform Board of Directors, the Governors Nursing Home advisory board and the White House Conference on Aging. We are represented through our nursing home and boarding home community forums, our own Eldercare alliance, Senior Lobby and numerous local and state committees helping to provide better quality assurance for our friends.
In 2001, we completed our own Resident Council Handbook (now in its third printing) and began marketing our resources nationwide, continuing our vision that The Resident Councils of Washington would be a national leader in assisting residents to obtain opportunities, education and resources to live life to the fullest. Recognizing the need to provide better communication with residents, family, staff and the public, RCW completed its development of its website www.residentcouncil.org.
Each year RCW, as it matures, has been striving to keep up with its ambitious but focused strategic plans. RCW is more recognized by the community, the Washington legislature due to the organization and legislative forums conducted statewide. RCW has continued its statewide conferences for residents. Conferences give residents the opportunity to learn how to become their own best advocate at the facility level, state level and nationally. Seminars and course work is designed for activity professionals and social service personnel helping them better serve and empower our residents.
The most powerful opportunity RCW provides is the involvement of residents at every level. A resident board of directors, who lead the state resident council to continue goals determined by their strategic plan, guides us. We are proud of our accomplishments, our ability to make a difference for others and ourselves. We are proud that we have continued our journey in life with meaning sharing our expertise, education, beliefs and passions. We are proud that we can boast that we have our lives back.
The Resident Councils of Washington in now 25 years old.
Contact people:
Main office number:
(360) 275-8000Office fax number: (360) 277-0144
Address:
 |
220 E Canyon View Road
Belfair, WA 98528
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.residentcouncil.org
Miscellaneous Information
| Liability |
|
No
|
| Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers? |
|
Yes
|
| Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18? |
|
No
|
| Last updated on March 16, 2010 |
