Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. Unless otherwise indicated, all general
requirements apply to both new construction and an existing nursing
home.
B. A nursing home shall
comply with all applicable federal, State, and local governing laws,
regulations, standards, ordinances, and codes.
C. A nursing home shall be constructed to
comply with the provisions of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, as promulgated by
the State Fire Prevention Commission, that are applicable to nursing
homes.
D. Securely anchored
handrails:
(1) Shall be provided on each side
of all corridors in resident areas; and
(2) May not be more than 36 inches high as
measured from the floor to the top of the handrail.
E. Elevators.
(1) New Construction. Elevators shall meet
the requirements for elevators in a long-term care nursing home as set forth in
the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential, Health, Care, and
Support Facilities.
(2) Existing
Facilities. An existing nursing home shall meet all local codes and standards
for safety and maintenance of institutional elevators.
F. Lighting.
(1) A resident's room shall:
(a) Be lighted by outside windows;
and
(b) Have artificial light
adequate for reading and other uses as required.
(2) In order to prevent accidents and promote
efficiency of service, the nursing home shall ensure that the following areas
have sufficient artificial lighting:
(a)
Entrances;
(b) Hallways;
(c) Stairways;
(d) Inclines;
(e) Ramps;
(f) Basements;
(g) Attics;
(h) Storerooms;
(i) Kitchens;
(j) Laundries; and
(k) Service units.
G. Minimally Maintained Lighting
Levels. The following table lists the minimum lighting requirements in the
following given areas:
| Area |
Minimum Lighting |
| (1) Administrative areas |
30 foot-candles |
| (2) Dining areas |
30 foot-candles |
| (3) Recreation areas |
100 foot-candles |
| (4) Resident's room |
10 foot-candles |
| (5) Resident's reading lamps |
30 foot-candles |
| (6) Nurses station |
20 foot-candles |
| (7) Medicine storage and preparation area |
100 foot-candles |
| (8) Stairways |
20 foot-candles |
| (9) Corridors |
20 foot-candles |
H.
Night Lights.
(1) A nursing home shall have
sufficient lighting at night in the following areas:
(a) Hallways;
(b) Stairs; and
(c) Designated toilets of the nursing home
for the safety of the resident who gets up during the night.
(2) There shall be at least one
night light in each bedroom for residents.
(3) In new construction, the night light
shall be located at the resident room door and be capable of being switched on
and off.
I. Screens.
(1) A nursing home shall ensure that screened
doors and windows are installed and maintained in accordance with applicable
fire and safety codes and COMAR 10.15.03 Food Service Facilities.
(2) Maintenance and installation may not
conflict with other applicable laws, regulations, codes, or
ordinances.
(3) A nursing home
shall equip all screened doors with self-closing devices, to provide for the
normal flow of ingress and egress of traffic.
(4) A nursing home shall screen with wire
screen or its equivalent, not less than 16 meshes per linear inch for doors and
windows that provide ventilation.
J. Garbage Disposal.
(1) Garbage shall be:
(a) Stored in water-tight containers with
tight-fitting covers; and
(b)
Emptied at frequent intervals.
(2) Soiled containers shall be thoroughly
scoured and aired before using again.
K. Garbage Storage Space. Storage space shall
be provided for garbage and trash awaiting pickup.
L. Burning. A nursing home may not burn or
incinerate garbage at the nursing home.
M. Special Medical Wastes. The nursing home
shall meet the requirements for handling, treatment, and disposal of special
medical wastes as provided in COMAR 10.06.06.
N. Smoking.
(1) Resident Smoking Requirements.
(a) A resident who smokes shall be assessed
for safe smoking behaviors at admission and on significant changes in
condition.
(b) A resident assessed
to exhibit unsafe behaviors shall have a care plan to ensure the resident is
safe when smoking.
(2)
Nursing Home Smoking Requirements.
(a) Smoking
areas shall be designated.
(b)
Smoking shall be prohibited at the main entrance to all facilities.
(c) All tobacco products shall be
extinguished and disposed of in noncombustible containers with self-closing
lids in accordance with the provisions of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
O. A nursing home shall
be protected throughout the entire building by an automatic fire extinguishing
system.
