Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(A) All facilities
shall provide an ongoing program of activities and recreation suited to meet
the interests of and support the physical, mental and psychosocial well-being
of each resident, including residents with disabilities. The program shall also
be suited to meet the needs of residents for whom English is not their primary
spoken language.
(1) The activities program
shall provide a broad assortment of both facility-sponsored group and
individual activities, as well as independent activities, that accommodate
residents of various needs and backgrounds.
(2) The activities program shall utilize all
possible community, social, recreational, public and voluntary resources to
encourage independence and interaction in the community.
(3) In a SNCFC, therapeutic
recreation/rehabilitation programming shall be incorporated within the
rehabilitation services.
(B) All facilities shall provide an activity
director who is responsible for developing and implementing the activity
program.
(1) The activity director shall
possess a high school diploma or its equivalent; have the interest and ability
to work with elderly persons and person with physical, developmental and
behavioral disorders; and have at least one year's experience or training in
directing group activity.
(2) In
total, all facilities shall provide at least 20 hours of activity per week, per
unit.
(3) In a SNCFC, activity
programs shall be developed by the supervisor of therapeutic recreation
services.
(4) The activity director
of the CSF shall in addition to possessing a high school diploma; have an
ability to work with the elderly; have at least one year of experience or
training in directing group activities; and possess documented experience and
training in the planning and providing of special activities and programs for
the elderly mentally ill which are geared toward enhancing resocialization and
community integration of residents.
(C)
Functions of the Activity
Director.
(1) The activity
director plans, schedules and posts in advance a monthly activity program
including group activities, special activities on holidays, religious days,
birthdays, and other special occasions; supervises and conducts activities;
arranges for religious services; supervises the work of volunteers; and
participates in resident reviews, staff meetings and in-service educational
programs.
(2) The activity director
and other staff shall encourage, but not force, residents to participate in
each day's activities and, where appropriate, in program planning; shall seek
ways to motivate and interest residents in activities; and shall provide
suitable activities for residents unable to leave their rooms.
(3) The activity director shall prepare
activity records, which shall include: a monthly activity schedule posted in a
conspicuous place in each unit and an activity participation record indicating
resident participation in and reaction to activities.
In a SNCFC, the resident's care plan must include:
(a) periodic surveys of the resident's
interests; and
(b) the extent and
level of resident's participation in the recreation program.
(D) Residents who are
able shall be encouraged to pursue activities outside of the facility.
In a SNCFC, field trips into the community shall be an integral
part of each resident's programming.
(E) Visiting hours shall be flexible and
shall be conspicuously posted.
(1) Provisions
shall be made for privacy during telephone conversations, during visits with
clergymen, relatives or other such visitors.
(2) Facilities shall have a list of the
clergymen of the major faiths readily available, and requests to see clergymen
shall be honored at all times.
(F) Facilities shall provide, maintain and
store, without charge to the residents, the following basic supplies and
equipment: books, current magazines and newspapers, games, crafts, and radio
and television (in appropriate areas). Residents who use their personal radio,
television or other such equipment shall not be billed for
electricity.
(G) Recreation rooms,
living rooms, sitting rooms, dining areas and residents' rooms shall ordinarily
be sufficient for activities and recreational programs. Additional activity
unit or space are not required.
(1) In a
SNCFC, indoor play areas shall be provided with a space of at least 12-square
feet per bed. Additional outdoor play area shall also be provided.
(2) In a SNCFC, therapeutic
recreational/rehabilitation areas shall be designed and constructed so all
residents regardless of their disabilities, have access to them. Recreation
equipment and supplies shall be provided in a quantity and variety is
sufficient to carry out the facility's activities programs.
(H)
Special Activities
and Services.
(1) Facilities may
provide or contract for certain special personal services for residents such as
hairdresser or barber services. These services shall not substitute for routine
personal care services the facility is required to provide regularly for all
residents. These special personal services shall be available only to residents
within the facility.
(2) Facilities
may provide a snack shop or small gift shop (with total retail value of the
salable items not to exceed $150) as an adjunct to recreational, diversional
and therapeutic services for residents. Snack shops and gift shops shall be
conveniently located and accessible to residents' living and recreational areas
and shall be open only to residents and their immediate visitors. Such shops
shall be open to facility staff only if this does not interfere with or
inconvenience the use by residents.
(a) Snack
shops shall not be open to residents during the servicing of regular meals
required for all residents.
(b)
Snack shops shall serve only: hot and cold beverages, desserts, cookies,
crackers and other pre-packaged snacks.
(c) Snack shops shall conform to all
regulations relating to sanitation, refrigeration and food quality, and other
rules and regulations relative to general dietary and kitchen services.
(105 CMR 150.009
and
150.016)
.
(d) Food purchase, storage,
preparation and service, and the staff for the snack shop shall be completely
separate from the facility's general dietary service.
(e) Gift shops may contain greeting cards,
newspapers, magazines, articles made by residents, a modest assortment of gift
items and toiletries. Gift shops shall be staffed by volunteers (including
residents if they so desire) and operated under the direction of the activity
director.
(f) If articles made by
the residents are sold in the gift shop, the money shall be given or credited
to the residents.
(3)
Bazaars, fairs and other recreational fund-raising activities shall be solely
for the benefit of the residents and shall not be of financial benefit to the
facility.
(4) All special services
described in 105 CMR 150.012(H) shall be provided as a service to residents,
and there shall be no profit or financial benefit to the facility. Accounts for
all such services shall be kept entirely separate from other financial records
and accounts (including separate purchase of food and supplies), and these
accounts shall be available on the premises for inspection and evaluation by
the Department. Facilities shall submit, at their own expense, to the
Department an annual audit by a Certified Public Accountant of the financial
records and accounts of such special services.
(5) The regular staff of the facility shall
not be used to provide any of the above special services.
(6) No special services shall be available to
the general public.
(I)
All Resident Care Facilities, multi-level facilities with Level IV units with
Community Support Residents and Community Support Facilities shall develop
in-house activities and programs specific to the mental health needs of
Community Support Residents and shall encourage the involvement of Community
Support Residents. The activities director shall develop such activities and
programs with the input of the resident's Support Services Coordinator and
social worker.
