Residents of assisted living facilities use resident councils to get their voices heard. Catherine Scott-Aspen of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) says resident councils are useful tools to gauge the performance and services residents receive at assisted livings communities. "Resident councils are a way to make sure our residents and their families are happy on an ongoing basis, [without waiting] until the annual satisfaction survey," Scott-Aspen says. Resident councils tackle issues such as parking, recreation, social outings, decor, and food.