Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC

Quarterly Newsletter – Winter 2026

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Welcome to our Winter 2026 Newsletter! ❄️

In this issue, we share updates, resources, and highlights from family councils across British Columbia.

The Education Portal is now open. Registration is no longer required.

Access Portal

Please check out our new content, Start a Family Council A-Z. For the index of the document

Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC)

ILTCCABC is a registered Society. It is a provincial association of family councils representing the collective voice of long-term care residents, their families, and representatives.

ILTCCABC is comprised of its member Regional Associations of Family Councils, which operate in every health authority. ILTCCABC is viewed by the Ministry of Health as an important partner (stakeholder in the long-term care sector) that contributes to the development and maintenance of independent resident and family councils in Long-Term Care.

Spotlight on Family Councils

SPOTLIGHT ON FAMILY COUNCILS

Each quarter, ILTCCABC is proud to "SPOTLIGHT" a family council. We highlight how simple but effective these groups of care, community friends, and family can be to the well-being of their own long-term care home. We hope their efforts inspire you to take part in your long-term care home family council (or start one up if one does not exist).

At the local long-term care home level, families and friends of residents know the value of being part of the care team. They establish relationships and contribute to conversations for continuous quality improvement. Their family council relationships support education and positive change. These family councils become involved in decision-making that positively affects their care home community.

These councils attend regional forums where they further serve to elevate the resident voice, learn about the long-term care system and advocate for improvement.

ILTCCABC newsletter team want to hear from you! Our goal is to feature different regional family councils each quarter! Send your SPOTLIGHT to communications.iltccabc@gmail.com

Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils

(VCAFC)

Spotlight on Fairhaven Homes Society

Fraser Association of Family Councils (FAFC)

Spotlight on the Evergreen Care Family Council

RESEARCH:

ILTCCABC wishes to share a "thank you" from BC Center for Palliative Care to all our members for taking part in a recent research survey opportunity:

Long-Term Care Palliative Approach Collaborative

Engagement with people with lived experience.

The BC Center for Palliative Care thanks the many survey participants from ILTCCABC. They thank us for our input on the conversations about palliative care protocol.

This email is to thank you and update you about the survey. We were thrilled with 119 responses! The ILTCCABC's work in development and distribution no doubt made a big difference to the engagement of residents and families with the survey.

The survey and focus group results will inform the overall report, but also inform refining the indicators for recommended reporting.

In March, the LTC Collaborative will be moving into a process of developing recommendations about indicators.

Click Here for survey results that have shaped the conversation thus far

Warm regards,

Della

Della Roberts, RN, MSN, CHPCN(C)

Consultant, Strategic Initiatives

BC Centre for Palliative Care

Conferences

ILTCCABC promotes awareness of our regional associations directly to long-term care home owners and operators, managers, and private care home owners. Our attendance at conferences builds relationships with long-term care homes, health authorities, and the Ministry of Health.

Cosco

Vancouver Island Seniors Administrators Network (VISAN) Meeting

Byron Yahsuk attended the Vancouver Island Senior Administrator’s Network (VISAN)

Pat Armstrong

Book Corner

Eric Li

A Remarkable story about one person's efforts to learn and improve support for those living with Alzheimer's. How we all can make a difference if we know how!

Eric Lee, with the Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils, is a spokesperson for the Alzheimer's Society. His lived experience caring for his mother, at Broadway Lodge and then FairHaven, developed his skills as chair of the Family Council at both care homes. His mother has since passed, but his legacy remains in the naming of his council the Family Circle.

Eric is an integral part of this webinar. It is about the complexities of supporting a family member living with dementia in a long-term care setting.

Navigating love and loss in Long-Term Care

ILTCCABC Supports JSABC Home Support Reform Campaign

JSABC Home Support Initiative Partnership

Education Session

ILTCCABC Calendar of events:

Access Here

Resources from Educational Events:

Access Here

In case you missed this holiday social media gift, ILTCCABC posted: The 12 Days of Tips for Family Councils Long-Term Care.

We hope you find this useful.

Read Here

Regional News

VCAFC Live Forum Event March 22, 2026

Sunday, March 22, 1 pm – 3 pm

VanDusen Botanical Garden.

Peggy Gunn Woodland Halls

5251 Oak Street (@ 37th Avenue)

Registration required by March 13

Open to Family Council Members, Care Home Management and the VCH LTC Community

The Interior Family Councils are hosting the 2026 Family Councils Forum on Friday, May 22, 2026, as a hybrid event with both in-person attendance in Kelowna and online participation via Microsoft Teams. This forum invites Resident and Family Council members and long-term care staff to join engaging sessions on building strong councils, strengthening advocacy, and learning about recent quality improvements in long-term care. For more information or to register, please contact:

interiorfamilycouncils@gmail.com

IAFC Website