Frost Manor’s new family council gaining momentum
Friday January 4, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
After retiring from a 26-year nursing career, Margaret Cameron was looking for volunteer opportunities.

Cameron, whose mother has been a resident at OMNI Health Care-owned Frost Manor for eight years, planned to donate time to help residents and staff members at the Lindsay long-term care home.

When staff members learned about Cameron’s intentions, they asked if she could chair the home’s recently-formed family council.

“It was right up my alley,” says Cameron.

Immediately, Cameron got in touch with residents’ family members to get the ball rolling. Since forming in October, Frost Manor’s family council has had two meetings, which have gone well, notes Cameron.

Family council meets once per month.

The home sends out invitations to each family council meeting with the monthly mail. Any family member, friend or support person is encouraged to attend the meetings.

To date, the meetings average representatives from about six families. Although she would like to have more family members involved with the council, Cameron is not discouraged with the low numbers. At a recent regional family council meeting in Beaverton, Cameron was told that it’s normal for family councils to start small and expand as time progresses.

“So that’s what we’re hoping down the road,” she says, adding that the feedback from a survey sent out to family members involved with the council has been excellent.

“The surveys came back with really positive comments.”

One of the questions the survey asked was to list things family members would like to see remain the same at Frost Manor. Every one of the replies to the question listed the “caring and dedicated staff.”

Family councils advocate for residents in a wide range of areas. Councils will help the home get things it needs. They also help with fundraising activities. Family councils even be counted on assist residents who have lost their possessions.

“Somebody lost their glasses and we had a hunt for them and we found them within an hour,” says Cameron.

Anyone interested in joining the family council at Frost Manor can call the home at (705) 324-8333 to get more information.