How resident committees function in low‐level residential aged care facilities

Objective:  To investigate factors affecting the functioning of resident committees in South Australian low‐level residential aged care facilities (RACFs).Methods:  Observation of two consecutive resident committee meetings in 18 low‐level RACFs.Results:  Most meetings were informal. Only one‐third had an agenda, and although all had minutes, only half provided them to residents. Most meetings were scheduled monthly, but because of postponements, meetings were held on average every 7 weeks. Many meeting rooms did not allow residents to see and hear comfortably. Most chairpersons were staff and only one chairperson had formal training in conducting meetings. Only 21% of first meeting topics, which mostly focused on resident complaints, resulted in solutions at the second meeting. Resident dissatisfaction was evident with meeting environments, procedures and outcomes.Conclusion:  There is considerable scope for improving a number of environmental and procedural factors affecting the functioning of resident committees.