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Resident and Family Support Council

​The Resident and Family Support Council is a virtual forum to bring people together across the State.

Upcoming Meetings

You do not have to register.

Click the link below at 3:00 P.M. on the day of the meeting to join the Zoom call.

March 24, 2026

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Topic: Listening to the Family Perspective on this Long-Term Care Journey – What has the experience been like for them

Description: This year, we have been reaching out to families who have or had loved ones in long-term care regarding their experience with this journey.  Whether they recognize themselves as a care partner or not, we are diving into the emotions that families go through as their loved one needs advanced care.  During this meeting, we will hear from a mother whose son lives in long-term care and how she has made it her mission to be a strong advocate to ensure he lives his life to the fullest.  Please feel free to share your own experiences as we engage in this conversation!

April 14, 2026

3:00 P.M.

April 28, 2026

3:00 P.M.

May 12, 2026

3:00 P.M.

Catch Up on Past Presentations!

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Past Presentations & Resources

March 10, 2024

Topic:
 AARP – learn about this valuable resource by having a tour of the website. 
 

February 24, 2026

Topic: You have an Advocate!  Understanding the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in IL
 

January 27, 2026

Topic: Listening to the Family Perspective on this Long-Term Care Journey – What has the experience been like for them?
 

December 9, 2025

Topic:  Visiting With Your Loved One During the Holidays – Ideas of things to make all your visits more engaging!
 

November 24, 2025

Topic: Watch Party: The Thin Edge of Dignity by Dick Weinman | Assisted Living Documentary
 

November 11, 2025

There was no meeting due to the State and Federal Holiday of Veterans Day.
     

October 28, 2025

Topic: Listening To What Our Residents Want – Discussing how Resident Rights impact those living in long-term care.
 

October 14, 2025

Topic: Celebrating Resident Rights Month – an interview with a resident who advocates for his and others’ rights daily.
 

September 23, 2025

Topic: Listening to What Our Residents Want – Thinking about the impact that environment has on our day-to-day lives.  
 

September 9, 2025

Topic: Illinois Legislative Update for the 2025 Legislative Session
 

August 26, 2025

Topic: Jack York, founder of iN2L and now TaleGate, has been traveling the country over the last 5 years, capturing stories of elders throughout the land.
 

August 12, 2025

Topic: Making Empowered Health Care Decisions

 

July 22, 2025

Topic:
Listening to What Our Residents Want – A conversation about how interactions can make or break a resident’s day.
 

July 8, 2025

Topic: Seeing yellow: what you need to know about urinary tract infections.

 

June 24, 2025

Topic: Listening to What Our Residents Want – A conversation about how interactions can make or break a resident’s day.
 

June 10, 2025

Topic: LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Aging Services & Resources for Long-term Care

May 27, 2025

Topic: Listening To What Our Residents Want – A conversation about resident-directed living. 
 

May 13, 2025

Topic: Grief Across Generations: Navigating Loss Around Mother’s Day and Father’s Day’s

April 22, 2025

Topic:
Listening To What Our Residents Want
 

April 8, 2025

Topic:
Learning of a Resource To Help When You Want To Leave the Long-Term Care Facility and Living in the Community

March 25, 2025

Topic: Listening To What Our Residents Want – A Conversation with Those Living In Long-Term Care Regarding Accommodation of Needs
 

March 11, 2025

Topic:  Legislative initiatives that are important to those living in long-term care.

February 25, 2025

Topic: Listening To What Our Residents Want – A Conversation with Those Living In Long-Term Care Regarding Care Plans
 

February 11, 2025

Topic: Diverse Elders Coalition:  advocates for the unique needs of our communities throughout our country.

January 28, 2025

Topic: Empowering residents through person-directed living
 

January 14, 2025

Topic:  Learning About the Library and All It Has To Offer Even When You Are a Resident of a Long-Term Care Community!
 

December 10, 2024

Topic: Listening is Reading!

November 26, 2024

Topic: Second showing of the Thankfulness Meeting

November 12, 2024

Topic: Celebrating Thankfulness During the Thanksgiving Season
 

October 22, 2023

  • Topic: Election Day is November 5th – Making sure that your right to vote is honored as a person living in Long-Term Care!
  • View Presentation Materials - Voting Rights
     

October 8, 2024

  • Topic: Hearing About the Importance of Resident Rights From Those Living in Long-Term Care

September 23, 2024

  • Topic: Planning for Resident Rights Month!
     

September 10, 2024

  • Topic: Responding to Respiratory Illnesses in Long-Term Care - A presentation on current respiratory illnesses circulating in Illinois and necessary actions you can take as residents and family members of residents in Long Term Care.
  • View Presentation Materials: Respiratory Season Preparation in Long-Term Care
     

August 27, 2024

August 13, 2024

  • Topic: Understanding What Benefits Exist for the Aging Veteran in Illinois

July 23, 2024


July 9, 2024

Topic: Psychotropic Drugs: What You Need to Know About Standards of Care and Best Practices.
 

June 25, 2024

  • Topic:  Illinois Legislative Update – Discussion of aging related bills that have passed during the 2024 Spring Session. 
  • View Presentation Materials: IDoA Legislative Update
     

June 11, 2024

May 28, 2024

  • Topic: The Montessori Method in Dementia Care

View Presentation Materials: Montessori Presentation Handout


May 14, 2024

April 23, 2024

  • Topic: Moving Forward in Long-Term Care!
     

April 9, 2024

  • Topic: Changing the Culture of your Long-Term Care Community – a tool to assist in this endeavor
  • View Presentation Materials: Artifacts Training and Handouts.
     

March 26, 2024

  • Topic: Understanding the Personal Needs Allowance for Medicaid Residents in Long-Term Care Communities
  • View Presentation Materials: Personal Needs Allowance
     

March 12, 2024

  • Topic: Who are the Ombudsman and How They Help Those Living in Care Communities
     

February 27, 2024 

February 13, 2024

  • Topic: My loved one has dementia… I need resources!
     

January 23, 2024

  • Topic: Area Agency on Aging – who they are and what they do
    View Presentation Materials 1, 2
     

January 9, 2024

  • Topic: Everyone has the right to vote in our country and being in a long-term care community does not exclude you from that right. 
  • View Presentation Materials: 123
December 12, 2023
  • Topic: Visiting with your loved one during the holidays - ideas of things to make all your visits more engaging.
     

November 28, 2023

  • Topic: Let’s hear from you!
     

November 14, 2023

  • Topic: Resident and Family Empowerment – a discussion regarding how to advocate for yourself.
     

October 24, 2023

  • Topic: Staffing Needs to be addressed in LTC but are the new proposed federal regulations it?
  • View Presentation Materials: PowerPoint 1, PowerPoint 2
     

October 10, 2023

September 26, 2023

  • Topic: The Point of View from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Volunteers
     

September 12, 2023

August 22, 2023

  • Topic: Understanding your Rights As a Resident In Long-Term Care - Continuing the conversation!
     

August 8, 2023

  • Topic: Understanding Your Rights As a Resident In Long-Term Care

 

July 25, 2023

  • Topic: The Fear of Retaliation is Real

July 11, 2023

  • Topic: Making Life Easier Through Assisted Technology


June 27, 2023

  • Topic: Good Reads & Good Listens—Recommended books and podcasts to help support your long-term care/aging journey.
  • View Presentation Materials.


June 13, 2023

  • Topic: Continuing Our Conversation About What Happens When I File a Complaint with the State About a Long-Term Care Facility?
     

May 23, 2023

  • Topic: What Happens When I File a Complaint About Long-Term Care Facility with The State?
     
May 9, 2023

April 25, 2023


April 11, 2023

  • Topic: What Admission to a Long-Term Care Facility should look like:  Contract Discussion?

 

March 28, 2023

  • Topic: Using Federal “Care Compare” to Assess Nursing Home Ratings
     

March 14, 2023

February 28, 2023

  • Topic: Person Centered/Directed End of life Care Presented by Nancy Flowers
  • View Presentation Materials  
     

February 14, 2023


January 24, 2023

  • Topic: Activities of Daily Living:  What does this mean and what should it look like in long-term care?
     

January 10, 2023

  • Topic: What is a Family Council, How do I Start One and what should it look like? 
     

December 27, 2022

December 13, 2022


November 22, 2022

  • Topic:  Giving Thanks for Family Caregivers in Long-Term Care
     

November 8, 2022

  • No meeting due to Election Day
     

October 25, 2022

  • Topic: Meaningful Engagement During the Holidays
     

October 11, 2022

  • Topic:  Taking Your Loved One Out of The Facility:  From a day outing to vacation, what do I need to know?
     

Sept 27, 2022

September 13, 2022

  • Topic: What Should Meaningful Engagement Look Like in Your Long-Term Care Facility?


August 23, 2022

  • Topic: The Importance of Knowing Your Medications and What They Are For 
     

August 9, 2022

  • Topic: Being Self-empowered with your Dietary Choices
     

July 26, 2022

July 12, 2022


June 28, 2022

  • Topic: You Can Be Treated for COVID – Understanding the various treatments and when/how these are administered 


June 14, 2022

  • Topic:  Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in Long-Term Care Facilities: Adult Protective Services Role and Ombudsman Role


May 10, 2022

  • Topic: Resident & Family Support Council Year in Review- revisiting some of our most impactful conversations


April 26, 2022

  • Topic: Sexual Expression in Long-Term Care Facilities


April 12, 2022

  • Topic: Update on Legislation Pertaining to Long-Term Care
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


March 22, 2022

  • Topic:  Resident Rights – Your Rights as a citizen and a Facility Resident PART II
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


March 8, 2022

  • Topic: Resident Rights - Your rights as a citizen and a facility resident PART I
  • Topic: Resident Council Meeting - What are they for and what should they look like?
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.
  • Topic: Family Councils: A Way to Feel More Involved in Your Loved One's Facility
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


January 11, 2022

  • Topic:  Understanding Your Rights:  The Right to Privacy and Confidentiality. 


December 21, 2021

  • Topic:  The Gift of Resources to Empower
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


December 7, 2021

  • Topic: We Want to Hear From You!


November 23, 2021

  • Topic: Home For the Holidays- enjoying each other's company no matter where you live.


November 9, 2021

Topic: The How's and Why's of Guardianship

  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


October 26, 2021

  • Topic: Having your Person Centered Care Needs Met Through You Care Plan
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


October 12, 2021

  • Topic: What is Person Centered Care?


September 28, 2021

  • Topic: IDPH Update:  It's Fall What should we be seeing? 
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


September 14, 2021

  • Topic: Understanding Guardianship in IL
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


August 31, 2021

  • Topic: Dementia Friendly Illinois
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


August 17, 2021

  • Topic: Hospice and Palliative Care – What's the difference?


August 3, 2021

  • Topic: Understanding Dementia
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


July 20, 2021

  • Topic: Care Plans – What are they and what do I need to know 
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


June 22, 2021

  • Topic:  It's June… what should we be seeing
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


June 8, 2021

  • Topic: Understanding Your Long-Term Care Discharge and Financial Rights
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


May 25, 2021

  • Topic: Electronic Monitoring-Understanding Your Rights!   


May 11, 2021

  • Topic: We Want to Hear from You! 


April 27, 2021

  • Topic: Advocating For Yourself! 
  • View Presentation Materials HERE


April 13, 2021

  • Topic: The Different Types of Long-Term Care Communities Where To Go To Advocate For Yourself or Those You Care About
  • View Presentation Materials HERE.


March 30, 2021

  • Topic: IDPH Revised Guidance for Nursing Homes; released on March 19, 2021.  
  • View Presentation Materials HERE
  • Topic: Family's and Resident's Concerns Regarding Visitation in Long-Term Care Facilities.  
  • View Presentations Materials HERE