Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1011 - Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (1011, 1015 Series)
6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 07 - ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES
Part 12 - RESIDENT CARE SERVICES

Universal Citation: 1000 CO Code Regs 12

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024

Minimum Services

12.1 The assisted living residence shall make available, either directly or indirectly through a resident agreement, the following services, sufficient to meet the needs of the residents:

(A) A physically safe and sanitary environment including, but not limited to, measures to reduce the risk of potential hazards in the physical environment related to the unique characteristics of the population;

(B) Room and board;

(C) Personal services including, but not limited to, a system for identifying and reporting resident concerns that require either an immediate individualized approach or on-going monitoring and possible re-assessment;

(D) Protective oversight including, but not limited to, taking appropriate measures when confronted with an unanticipated situation or event involving one or more residents and the identification of urgent issues or concerns that require an immediate individualized approach; and

(E) Social care and resident engagement.

Nursing Services

12.2 Nurses may provide nursing services to support the personal services provided to residents of the assisted living residence, except that such services shall not rise to the level that requires resident discharge as described in Part 11.11 or becomes regular 24-hour medical or nursing care.

(A) Other staff may assist with nursing services if they are trained and evaluated for competency prior to assignment.

(B) Staff assisting with nursing services shall be supervised by a nurse.

(C) Only staff employed or contracted by the assisted living residence shall provide or assist with nursing services on behalf of the assisted living residence.

12.3 The following occasionally required services may only be provided by an external service provider or the nurse of the assisted living residence:

(A) Syringe or tube feeding,

(B) Intravenous medication,

(C) Catheter care that involves changing the catheter, irrigation of the catheter and/or total assistance with catheter,

(D) Ostomy care where the ostomy site is new or unstable, and

(E) Care for a stage 1 or stage 2 pressure sore if the condition is stable and resolving.

12.4 An assisted living residence shall not admit or keep a resident with a stage 3 or stage 4 pressure sore unless the resident has a terminal condition and is receiving continuing care from an external service provider.

Practitioner Assessment

12.5 The assisted living residence shall have a policy and procedure regarding when a practitioner's assessment of a resident is appropriate. At a minimum, the assisted living residence shall contact the resident's primary practitioner when any of the following circumstances occur and follow the practitioner's recommendation regarding further action.

(A) The resident experiences a significant change in their baseline status,

(B) The resident has physical signs of possible infection (open sores, etc.),

(C) The resident sustains an injury or accident,

(D) The resident has known exposure to a communicable disease, and/or

(E) The resident develops any condition which would have initially precluded admission to the assisted living residence.

Comprehensive Resident Assessment

12.6 At the time a new resident moves in, the assisted living residence shall complete a comprehensive assessment that reflects information requested and received from the resident, the resident's representative if requested by the resident, and a practitioner. Information from the comprehensive assessment shall be used to establish an individualized care plan.

12.7 The comprehensive assessment shall include all the following items:

(A) Information from the comprehensive pre-admission assessment described in Part 11.1;

(B) Information regarding the resident's overall health and physical functioning ability;

(C) Information regarding the resident's advance directives;

(D) Communication ability and any specific needs to facilitate effective communication;

(E) Current diagnoses and any known or anticipated need or impact related to the diagnoses;

(F) Food and dining preferences, unique needs and restrictions;

(G) Individual bathroom routines, sleep and awake patterns;

(H) Reactions to the environment and others, including changes that may occur at certain times or in certain circumstances;

(I) Routines and interests;

(J) History and circumstances of recent falls and any known approaches to prevent future falls;

(K) Safety awareness;

(L) Types of physical, mental, and social support required; and

(M) Personal background, including information regarding any other individuals who are supportive of the resident, cultural preferences, and spiritual needs.

12.8 The comprehensive assessment shall be documented in writing and kept in the resident's health information record.

12.9 The comprehensive assessment shall be updated for each resident at least annually and whenever the resident's condition changes from baseline status.

Resident Care Plan

12.10 Each resident care plan shall:

(A) Be developed with input from the resident and the resident's representative;

(B) Reflect the most current assessment information;

(C) Promote resident choice, mobility, independence and safety;

(D) Detail specific personal service needs and preferences along with the staff tasks necessary to meet those needs;

(E) Identify all external service providers, including essential caregivers for the purposes of the assisted living residence's visitation policy as required by Part 9.2, along with care coordination arrangements; and

(F) Identify formal, planned, and informal spontaneous engagement opportunities that match the resident's personal choices and needs.

Care Coordination

12.11 The assisted living residence shall be responsible for the coordination of resident care services with known external service providers.

12.12 The assisted living residence shall notify the resident's representative whenever the resident experiences a significant change from baseline status.

Restraint

12.13 An assisted living residence shall not use restraints of any kind or deprive a resident of his or her liberty for purposes of care or safety except as allowed by Part 11.2(I), Part 25, or as set forth below.

12.14 A device that facilitates a resident's well-being and/or independence may be used only if all of the following criteria are met:

(A) The resident has the functional ability to alter his or her position;

(B) The resident is able to remove the device to allow for normal movement;

(C) The device improves the resident's physical or emotional state and allows the resident to participate in activities that would otherwise be difficult or impossible; and

(D) There is an order from a practitioner for its use.
(1) There shall also be interdisciplinary documentation from both the practitioner and a therapist describing the benefits and hazards associated with the device and information on its appropriate use.

(2) A resident's continued use of such device shall be re-evaluated by both therapist and practitioner at least annually or whenever the resident experiences a significant change in status.

(3) Documentation of compliance with this subpart (D) shall be retained in the resident's care plan.

Fall Management Program

12.15 The assisted living residence shall develop policies and procedures to establish a fall management program. The program shall include the following:

(A) Providing fall management education and materials to residents and family members;

(B) Detailing in each resident's care plan the individualized approach necessary to address fall risk related to deficits in strength, balance, and eyesight, or effects of medication as identified during the comprehensive resident assessment;

(C) Providing resident engagement activities to improve strength and balance as specified in Part 12.22(C);

(D) Routinely inspecting and maintaining a safe exterior and interior environment as specified in Parts 21 and 22; and

(E) Providing staff training related to fall prevention as specified in Part 7.8(B)(6).

Lift Assistance

12.16 Each assisted living residence shall direct staff to assist residents who have fallen or are otherwise unable to independently get up off the floor. The assisted living residence's policy on staff providing lift assistance shall be made available to its local emergency medical responders.

12.17 The assisted living residence shall ensure that it has trained staff available to evaluate residents who have fallen or are otherwise unable to independently get up off the floor and provide lift assistance when determined appropriate instead of relying on emergency medical responders.

(A) Each situation shall be evaluated to determine if the resident can be assisted in a safe manner such as when the resident has no pain and/or there is no change from baseline, the resident's mental status is unchanged from baseline, and there is no, or minor, bleeding.

(B) Once the situation has been evaluated, assisted living residence policy shall require staff to take the following actions:
(1) Physically perform the lift assistance using techniques provided in staff training and monitor the resident; or

(2) Not lift and call 911 when the resident is unconscious, the resident's physical or mental status has declined from baseline, the resident experiences an increase in pain when lifting is attempted, the resident wants 9-1-1 called, and/or the resident either can't assist in any way or refuses to assist because of pain, injury, or other physical complications.

(C) The assisted living residence shall promptly notify the resident's practitioner, family and/or legal representative of the occurrence of either circumstance identified in Part 12.17(B)(1) or (2), along with information regarding the ALR's response.

12.18 The assisted living residence's policy shall also require documentation of the action taken by staff and ongoing efforts to prevent a reoccurrence of the situation in the future.

Resident Engagement

12.19 The assisted living residence shall encourage residents to maintain and develop their fullest potential for independent living through individual and group engagement opportunities.

12.20 The assisted living residence shall provide all residents with regular opportunities to participate in structured engagement and shall support the pursuit of each resident's interests.

12.21 If requested, the assisted living residence shall assist a resident with identifying and accessing outside services and community events.

12.22 Examples of resident engagement include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Individual or group conversation, recreation, art, crafts, music, and pet care;

(B) Use of daily living skills that foster and maintain a sense of purpose and significance;

(C) Physical pursuits such as games, sports, and exercise that develop and maintain strength, coordination, and range of motion;

(D) Educational opportunities such as special classes or community events;

(E) Cultivation of personal interests and pursuits; and

(F) Encouraging engagement with others.

12.23 The assisted living residence shall encourage residents to contribute to the planning, preparation, conduct, clean-up, and critique of any structured engagement offering.

12.24 The assisted living residence shall evaluate its resident engagement program at least every three months to ascertain whether the opportunities offered to residents are relevant and well-received and/or if changes are appropriate in response to resident feed-back.

12.25 The assisted living residence shall, whenever feasible, coordinate with local agencies and organizations to promote resident participation in community centered activities including, but not limited to:

(A) Public service endeavors;

(B) Community events such as concerts, exhibits, and plays;

(C) Community organized group engagement such as senior citizen groups, sports leagues, and service clubs; and

(D) Attendance at the place of worship of the resident's choice.

12.26 Each assisted living residence shall place notices of planned resident engagement offerings in a central location readily accessible to residents, relatives, and the public. Copies shall be retained for at least six months.

Resident Engagement Management

19 or fewer residents

12.27 In assisted living residences that are licensed for 19 or fewer residents, the administrator shall be primarily responsible for organizing, conducting, and evaluating resident engagement. If an assisted living residence can demonstrate that its residents are self-directed to the extent that they are able to plan, organize, and conduct the ALR's resident engagement activities themselves, the ALR may request a waiver of this requirement.

20 to 49 residents

12.28 In assisted living residences that are licensed for 20 to 49 residents, the administrator shall designate one staff member to be responsible for organizing, conducting, and evaluating resident engagement. The designated staff member shall have had at least six months experience in providing structured resident engagement offerings or have completed or be enrolled in an equivalent education and/or training program.

50 or more residents

12.29 In assisted living residences that are licensed for 50 or more residents, there shall be at least one staff member whose sole responsibility is to organize, conduct, and evaluate resident engagement. The ALR shall provide such staff member with as much accommodation and staff support as necessary to ensure that all residents have on-going opportunities to participate in resident engagement activities that are planned in advance, documented in writing, kept up to date, and made available to all residents. The responsible staff member shall have had at least one year of experience or equivalent education and/or training in providing structured resident engagement offerings and be knowledgeable in evaluating resident needs, supervising other staff and in training volunteers.

Use of Volunteers

12.30 Each assisted living residence shall encourage participation of volunteers in resident engagement opportunities. All such volunteers shall be supervised and directed by the administrator or staff member primarily responsible for resident engagement.

Physical Space and Equipment:

12.31 Each assisted living residence shall have sufficient physical space to accommodate both indoor and outdoor resident engagement. Such accommodations shall include, at a minimum:

(A) A comfortable, appropriately furnished area such as a living room, family room, or great room available to all residents for their relaxation and for socializing with friends and relatives; and

(B) An outdoor activity area which is easily accessible to residents and protected from traffic. Outdoor spaces shall be sufficient in size to comfortably accommodate all residents participating in an activity.

12.32 Each assisted living residence shall provide sufficient recreational equipment and supplies to meet the needs of the resident engagement program. Special equipment and supplies necessary to accommodate persons with special needs shall be made available as appropriate. When not in use, recreational equipment and supplies shall be stored in such a way that they do not create a safety hazard.

12.33 Each assisted living residence shall ensure that staff who accompany residents away from the assisted living residence have ready access to the pertinent personal information of those residents in the event of an emergency.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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