Many of us have seen examples of both healthy and unhealthy relationships between CCRC governing boards, management, and resident communities.
Some communities include residents as full voting members of their corporate boards. Others do not. Some resident organizations operate with substantial independence and mutual respect. Others function within structures that discourage candid communication or meaningful resident participation.
These experiences raise an important question:
What governance practices help sustain trust, transparency, accountability, and strong community culture in Life Plan Communities?
A small group of us has begun discussing the possibility of developing a collection of best practices and educational resources concerning resident participation in governance. One possible component would be a focused orientation and training framework for residents who serve on governing boards.
The discussion begins with several observations:
- Resident board members are not delegates or political representatives. They are fiduciaries with responsibilities to the organization as a whole.
- At the same time, resident directors bring firsthand awareness of community culture and resident experience that boards cannot obtain solely through management reports.
- CCRCs differ from many nonprofits because the resident community is not merely a customer base or service population. Residents collectively provide the economic and social foundation of the enterprise and entrust substantial portions of their assets and futures to it.
- Governance quality directly influences trust, resident engagement, transparency, and long-term institutional stability.
At this stage, the effort is exploratory and collaborative. We are seeking ideas, experiences, examples, cautions, and recommendations from Governance Forum participants.
Questions that may help stimulate discussion include:
- Does your community include residents on the governing board?
- If so, how are resident board members selected and oriented?
- What has worked well?
- What problems or tensions have emerged?
- What knowledge or preparation would help resident board members become effective more quickly?
- How should resident directors balance independence with confidentiality and fiduciary responsibility?
- What governance practices strengthen trust between residents, boards, and management?
Examples, documents, policies, anecdotes, and differing viewpoints are all welcome.
The long-term goal would be to help communities strengthen governance relationships in ways that support both organizational stability and healthy resident life.
Richmond Shreve
NaCCRA Board Member & VP
Forum Moderator