Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) The Home Care
Counselor shall conduct a home study, an assessment of the home environment and
physical surroundings in which the Home Care for Disabled Adults applicant or
home care client currently resides or intends to reside with the provider, to
determine the fitness of the private residential home, in keeping with the
assessed needs of the applicant or home care client and the standards as
established for this Program. The Home Care Counselor shall note any condition
that he or she believes may pose a physical danger to the home care client,
shall formulate a written recommendation as to case approval or denial, and
shall submit this recommendation, with accompanying documentation, to the
designated district, regional, or zone authority for final review and decision.
The home study is completed at least annually.
(2) Home study standards shall include:
(a) General.
1. The home shall be a family-type dwelling
occupied as the primary residence of the home care provider and shall serve as
the primary domicile of the home care client.
2. Floors and furnishings shall be free of
unsanitary conditions that would attract rodents, vermin, and
insects.
3. The yard and area
surrounding the residence shall be free of litter and refuse that could serve
as breeding areas for insects, vermin, and rodents.
4. Windows shall be covered or screened to
secure the residence from flies and insects.
5. There shall be at least one telephone with
9-1-1 capability that is operational and that is hard-wired into the home; or
at least one cellular telephone with 9-1-1 capability that is operational,
audible, and functions inside the home; or a written emergency plan describing
how an emergency will be handled without immediate telephone access, shall be
developed by the provider. This emergency plan shall be approved by district or
regional Adult Services Program Office or zone staff.
(b) Bedroom.
1. Bedding and linens shall be provided and
shall be clean and changed as dictated by the physical condition of the home
care client.
2. There shall be two
means of egress from the bedroom occupied by the home care client. This may
include a window which may be used by the home care client for exiting the
bedroom in case of an emergency.
(c) Bathroom.
1. The primary bathroom that is used by the
home care client shall have a toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower, all in
working order.
2. Portable toilets
may be utilized provided waste is disposed of by a sanitary method.
3. There shall be arrangements for bathing
the home care client, based on the home care client's physical condition and
functional ability, including bathing facilities with hot and cold running
water available for the home care client.
4. Soap, clean towels, and washcloths shall
be provided.
(d) Food
Preparation and Dining Areas.
1. Food
preparation and food storage areas shall be clean, dry, free of odors, free of
rodents, and free of infestation of insects and vermin.
2. Homes shall have kitchen facilities
necessary for perishable food storage and meal preparation.
(e) Fire Protection.
1. An operating smoke detector shall be
present in each dwelling.
2.
Flammable materials such as gasoline, paint, lacquer and paint thinner,
alcohol, oxygen, turpentine, contact cement, charcoal, lighter fluid, and
cleaning fluids shall be stored away from sources of heat and shall be stored
outside or away from the kitchen and other inside living areas of the main
residence. They shall not be stored in a garage if a fuel-burning appliance is
located in the garage.
3.
Combustible materials such as newspapers and rags shall not be stored near a
furnace, hot water heater, space heater, or other sources of heat.
4. Frayed, cracked, or broken electrical
wiring and extension cords shall be removed and replaced. Extension cords shall
not extend from one room to another. No more than two extension cords shall be
used at one time in multi-outlet adapters.
5. Electric space heating units shall bear
the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label. Kerosene heaters, unvented gas, and
unvented oil heaters are prohibited. Only vented heaters, which shall be
properly vented to the outside, or shall be so constructed as to not require
venting, are permitted. The use of a propane heater (liquefied petroleum - LP)
which has a gas cylinder stored in the body of the heater or other types of
self-contained fuel supplies are prohibited. Only heaters which are stable and
constructed so as not to tip over are permitted.
(f) Firearms. Firearms and ammunition shall
be stored separately from each other in locked storage
areas.
Specific Authority
410.033 FS. Law Implemented
410.034
FS.
New 5-3-81, Amended 2-11-82, Formerly 10A-9.07, Amended
6-11-91, Formerly 10A-9.007, Amended 8-13-00,
1-23-05.