The Family Council provides a forum for friends and families to meet and share their experiences, exchange information and learn from one another.

Through this council, many of our family members have found a mutual support system that helps each other cope with their loved one’s experience of living in care and the long-term care home environment. These special relationships have often developed into lasting friendships that have been an invaluable support to family members during times of illness, palliative care and bereavement.

As well as organizing social and educational events for family and friends of residents, our Family Council is also a group of dedicated volunteers who plan and organize events such as our annual Christmas Craft & Bake sale and assisting at our annual Courtyard Fair. The council also reaches out to welcome our new residents and their family members and they help to provide additional support to those residents who do not have family or friends living nearby.

Columbus Residence is very fortunate to have a dedicated and supportive Family Council that embraces our “Mission, Values, Beliefs & Vision” and we are very appreciative of their many contributions and for acting as a supportive resource for everyone in the Columbus Residence community which includes our residents, staff, family, friends, tenants, as well as our Society & Board of Directors.

The Family Council completes the circle of care that promotes the highest quality of care for the residents living here.

Columbus Residence’s Family Council meets monthly.   For more information, please reach out to the council by email to: cr.familycouncil@gmail.com

Making Visits Meaningful

For those family and friends who would like help in making their visits with an elderly loved one more meaningful and rich, Columbus Residence’s Mission Integration team has some recommended reading for you.

“Visiting with Elders” is a an online handbook produced by the Departments of Social Work and Therapeutic Recreation at Baycrest in Toronto, an academic health sciences center focused on aging.

Download a useful handbook: Visting with Elders (PDF)