Meet the Chair of CapitalCare Lynnwood's Resident and Family Council

Lynnwood resident Doris spent much of her professional career advocating for seniors. Her life at Lynnwood looks pretty similar. As the chair of the Lynnwood resident council Doris uses her experience to advocate for the residents of one of CapitalCare’s largest centres.

“I always felt like I was an advocate for the seniors I worked with,” she says. “I felt there were things that were overlooked and needed to be addressed, so this was the way to do it.”

Doris receiving a package in Lynnwood's entry lobby.

In her professional life, Doris worked as a social worker with homecare going back to 1989. The work involved difficult conversations and navigating complex family dynamics. It could mean finding the right support for seniors who could use the extra support of an outside program or making the difficult decision to move someone into care. 

It’s the life-changing differences she made in people’s lives that she thinks of as wins, often with just a little big of help. 

“I had a wife I was helping, just for her to go out twice a week with friends for coffee – the difference that made for her – just the little things like that, so I’ve always been an advocate for seniors,” says Doris. 
Doris’s experience having difficult conversations and advocating for seniors informs her approach as chair of the Lynnwood resident council.

Residents have the right to form councils at continuing care centres to advocate for improvements to quality of life. Resident and Family Councils have existed in some form at CapitalCare for over two decades. At Lynnwood resident councils have existed since at least 2006, which is long before the province mandated their existence at continuing care centres in 2018. CapitalCare’s resident councils are an extension of the organization’s person-centred care focus. The resident council provides a forum for residents and families to discuss quality of life initiatives and provide direct feedback to CapitalCare leadership.

Resident Council Vice-Chair Addy (left) and Chair Doris (right) sitting in Lynnwood's atrium.

“The resident council provides an important forum for discussion. We value the perspective from residents and how we can use our resources to help residents, and families, have a better experience,” says Tania Travassos. “Doris has been a great facilitator on the council.” 

The councils host big conversations about food quality or how space within the centre is being used. Doris can be found carrying a stacked folder documenting work related to the council to her meetings. 
But just like her time as a social worker, small wins can be the best outcome. Recently, residents were able to test out the new Tovertafel digital gaming table before it was brought to Lynnwood, and Doris saw how fiercely the residents advocated for its addition to the centre. 

“That was huge. Either it was going to be approved or not, and the group that came down and saw it, we all went, yes!” says Doris. 

Resident councils provide a valuable forum for resident and family discussion about issues directly affecting the lives of residents at CapitalCare centres. Person-centred care is about helping residents to live fully, and resident councils are one forum where residents can help create spaces that work for them. Improving resident quality of life where residents, families and staff report a greater sense of community, purpose and belonging is a goal under the 2023 – 27 strategic plan, and resident councils, along with inspiring residents like Doris, are a core part of that goal.