What drove you to being part of the family councils?

Yeah, I've been privileged over the years to have been part of a number of family councils through my work life.

And being part of a family council where my mom lives, I think is critical.

I think it's my responsibility.

I think a healthy family council, as Sam mentioned earlier, has realistic expectations.

And they are a group that advocates for changes for all.

For personal issues of your loved one, there's lots of mechanisms for you to be able to get answers to those questions.

Linda, do you have some advice?

Go for it.

Um, y- you know, it happens more often than not.

Long-term care has changed over the years.

Gone are those days of the resident who said, you know, yes to their doctor, yes to their priests, yes to their husbands.

These residents know what they want.

Um, there's specific, um, uh, ways of doing things, and they want it done their way.

If you're in hospital and someone tells you perhaps you have to take a first bed policy, uh, which is what happens in Nova Scotia, um, you, you know, all of your choices are then sort of put to the bottom of the rack.

Is there a way to stay connected, and what does that look like? How can you be part of their daily life?