New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
He - Department of Health and Human Services
Subtitle He-P - Former Division of Public Health Services
Chapter He-P 800 - RESIDENTIAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITY RULES
Part He-P 813 - ADULT FAMILY CARE RESIDENCE
Section He-P 813.19 - Physical Environment

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules He-P 813.19

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) Living space and outdoor space shall be arranged and maintained as to provide for the health and safety of all household members.

(b) The family provider shall protect the resident's right to privacy.

(c) An AFCR shall:

(1) Be maintained in good repair and free of hazard to all household members; and

(2) Be free from environmental nuisances, including loud noise and foul odors.

(d) Each resident bedroom shall:

(1) Contain no more than 2 beds;

(2) Have its own separate entry to permit the resident to reach his or her bedroom without passing through the room of another resident;

(3) Not be used as an access way to a common area or another bedroom or for any other purposes;

(4) Be separated from halls, corridors and other rooms by floor to ceiling walls; and

(5) Have at least one operable window with a tightly fitting screen to the outside.

(e) A resident having impaired mobility as determined by his or her licensed practitioner or person-centered plan shall:

(1) Have a bedroom located on the same level as the bathroom facilities; and

(2) Not be assigned a bedroom above or below the ground level of the AFCR;

(f) The certified home family provider shall provide the following for the resident's use:

(1) A bed appropriate to the needs of the resident, including a mattress, pillow, linens and blankets;

(2) Clean linens for personal care;

(3) Furniture including, a bureau, mirror, and lamp;

(4) Easily accessible closet or storage space for clothing and personal belongings;

(5) Window blinds or curtains that provide privacy; and

(6) A lockable container for the storage of medications.

(g) The family provider shall permit the use of a resident's personal possessions, provided they do not pose a risk to the resident or others.

(h) The family provider shall provide at least one living room or a multi-purpose room and a designated dining area.

(i) The resident shall be able to access family providers whenever they assistance is needed.

(j) Ample and adequate lighting shall be available throughout the home to enable residents to navigate safely throughout the home and to participate in activities such as reading, writing, crafts or using a computer.

(k) At least one operating telephone shall be accessible to the residents at all times for incoming and outgoing calls.

(l) An AFCR shall have:

(1) At least one indoor bathroom which includes a sink, toilet, and a bathtub or shower for every 6 persons in the household, which includes the resident and all adults living in the home;

(2) A functioning septic or other sewage disposal system; and

(3) A supply of hot and cold running potable water shall be available for human consumption and food preparation at all times, as follows:
a. If drinking water is supplied by a non-public water system, the water shall be tested and found to be in accordance with Env-Dw 704 and Env-Ws 706 initially and every 6 years thereafter; and

b. If the water is not approved for drinking, an alternative method for providing safe drinking water shall be implemented.

(m) The provider shall maintain the furniture, floors, ceilings, walls, and fixtures shall be clean and in good repair.

(n) The family provider shall maintain:

(1) Linens, clothing and other laundry shall be clean and sanitary;

(2) A supply of clean linens shall be provided as needed to each resident; and

(3) Bathing and toileting facilities for all residents, clean and disinfected as often as necessary to prevent illness or contamination.

(o) The family provider shall distinctly label and legibly mark poisonous compounds, such as cleaning products and solutions and insecticides, so as to identify the contents and store in a place separate from food, medications and resident supplies.

(p) The family provider shall not use toxic materials in a way that contaminates food, equipment or utensils, or in any way other than in full compliance with the manufacturer's labeling.

(q) Except where residents have control of the thermostat in their own rooms, equipment providing heat to each the AFCR shall:

(1) Be capable of maintaining temperatures of:
a. At least 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night; and

b. At least 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day if the resident(s) are present; and

(2) Be maintained in good repair.

(r) When new plumbing is installed, it shall be sized, installed, and maintained in accordance with the state plumbing code as adopted under RSA 329-A:15.

(s) The AFCR shall provide ventilation in all enclosed living areas by means of a mechanical ventilation system or one or more screened windows that can be opened.

(t) All bathroom, bedroom and closet door latches shall be designed for easy opening from the inside and easy opening of the locked door from the outside in the event of an emergency.

(u) All showers and tubs shall have slip resistant floors and surfaces which are intact, easily cleanable, and impervious to water.

(v) Any firearms or ammunition kept at the AFCR shall be stored in a locked cabinet when not in use.

(w) Prior to beginning construction or renovations, or modifications to an AFCR, the certificate holder shall notify the health facilities administration of the plans.

(x) A family provider or applicant undergoing construction, renovations, or modifications to an AFCR shall comply with:

(1) The state fire code Saf-C 6000 as adopted under RSA 153;

(2) The state building code as adopted under RSA 155-A:2; and

(3) Local building, zoning and ordinance codes.

(y) At all times, including during any construction at the AFCR, the AFC family provider shall maintain the environment free of hazardous conditions, including but not limited to:

(1) Electrical hazards;

(2) Plumbing hazards;

(3) Exposed insulation;

(4) Tripping hazards, such as throw rugs, cords and construction debris;

(5) Chemical fumes; and

(6) Sawdust or sheetrock dust.

#8595, eff 4-1-06; ss by #9899-A, eff 3-29-11 (from He-P 813.20)

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Hampshire 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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