Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. General.
Community living facilities shall provide a home or apartment setting, or
efficiency/studio apartments providing a rehabilitative treatment environment.
The community living facility shall be equipped in a manner to help ensure
clients their privacy, dignity and independence while preparing them for
community integration. There shall be no more than three bedrooms per apartment
or six beds per home. Each shall strive to maintain a home-like environment and
shall be furnished for living. Each home/apartment shall include at a minimum:
1. a food preparation area consisting of a
sink with hot and cold running water, electrical outlets in compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, mini refrigerator, cooking appliance, food
storage cabinets and counter space;
2. a bathroom that is shared by no more than
four individuals which includes a toilet, sink and shower or tub with hot and
cold running water, shall be equipped with functional aides and shall be
accessible to the individual(s) using it and electrical outlets shall be in
compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
3. dining/sitting/bedroom area;
4. sufficient storage/closet space;
5. an operating emergency call system (wired
or wireless) is required for those clients that live alone without 24-hour
on-site supervision and shall be easily accessible to those clients that live
alone, in the event of an emergency and shall register at a location that is
monitored at all hours of the day and night;
6. a lockable front door that can be
controlled by the client;
7.
heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) thermostats that can be
individually controlled by the client, with a locking mechanism provided, if
required to prevent harm to a client;
8. at least one operating telephone available
24 hours/day; and
9. the ABI
facility shall ensure that any living situation that is selected by the client
is:
a. accessible to and functional for the
inhabitants of the living space, considering any handicapping condition or
other disability of the clients;
b.
free from any hazard to the health or safety of the clients;
c. properly equipped with useable facilities
for sleeping, food storage and preparation, sanitation, bathing, personal
hygiene and household cleaning;
d.
accessible to transportation; and
e. accessible to any services as required by
the clients plan of services or individual program, and in compliance with
applicable health, safety and sanitation codes.
B. A client may reside in an
efficiency/studio apartment that shall have a minimum of 250 net square feet of
floor space, excluding bathrooms and closets.
C. Homes or apartments with separate bedrooms
shall have a living area (living/dining/kitchenette) of at least 190 net square
feet, excluding bedroom, bathroom and closets. Each separate bedroom shall have
a minimum of 100 net square feet, excluding bathroom and closet or wardrobe
space.
D. Homes or apartments with
a bedroom designed for two individuals shall have a minimum of 200 net square
feet excluding bathrooms and closet or wardrobe space. Clients sharing a two
person bedroom shall agree, in writing, to this arrangement. No bedrooms shall
accommodate more than two clients.
E. Bedrooms shall contain an outside window.
A room where access is through a bathroom or another bedroom is prohibited for
use as a clients bedroom.
F. There
shall be at least 60 net square feet of common space for each home or
apartment.
G. Bathrooms shall be
located so that they open into a hallway, common area or directly into the
bedroom.
1. If the bathroom only opens
directly into a bedroom, it shall be for the sole use of the occupants of that
bedroom only.
2. Non-skid surfacing
or strips shall be installed in all showers and bathing areas. Grab bars shall
be installed in all showers and bathing areas if determined to be necessary for
the client(s) residing in this space.
3. Hot and cold water faucets shall be easily
identifiable.
4. Bathrooms shall
not be utilized for storage or purposes other than those indicated by this
Subsection.
H. The
facility shall have a written plan for providing support and supervision to the
clients in supervised living situations. The plan shall ensure:
1. regular contact between the facility
personnel and the client at a minimum of three times a week or as specified in
the clients service plan; and
2.
provisions for emergency access by clients to an appropriate facility staff
member on a 24-hour basis.
I. A facility shall, through routine visits
by staff to the home or apartment, determine and document that:
1. there is no reasonable cause for believing
that the clients mode of life or living situation presents any risks to the
clients health or safety;
2. the
living situation is maintained in a clean and safe condition;
3. the client is receiving required medical
care; and
4. the current plan of
services provides appropriate and sufficient services to the client.
J. Staff may have and utilize pass
keys to apartments or homes as may be necessary for services or
emergencies.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and
40:2120.31-40.
