Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a) Transportation.
The administrator must assure the provision of transportation for the residents
to necessary resources and activities, including transportation to the nearest
appropriate health facilities, social services agencies, shopping and
recreational facilities, and religious activities of the resident's choice. The
resident is not to be charged any additional fee for this service. Sources of
transportation may include community resources, public systems, volunteer
programs, family members as well as facility vehicles.
(b) Mail.
(1) Residents shall receive their mail
promptly and it must be unopened unless there is a written, witnessed request
authorizing management staff to open and read mail to the resident. This
request must be recorded on Form DSS-1865, the Resident Register or the
equivalent;
(2) Outgoing mail
written by a resident shall not be censored; and
(3) Residents shall be encouraged and
assisted, if necessary, to correspond by mail with close relatives and friends.
Residents shall have access to writing materials, stationery and postage and,
upon request, the home is to provide such items at cost. It is not the home's
obligation to pay for these items.
(c) Laundry.
(1) Laundry services must be provided to
residents without any additional fee; and
(2) It is not the home's obligation to pay
for a resident's personal dry cleaning. The resident's plans for personal care
of clothing are to be indicated on Form DSS-1865, the Resident
Register.
(d) Telephone.
(1) A telephone must be available in a
location providing privacy for residents to make and receive a reasonable
number of calls of a reasonable length;
(2) A pay station telephone is not acceptable
for local calls; and
(3) It is not
the home's obligation to pay for a resident's toll calls.
(e) Personal Lockable Space.
(1) Personal lockable space must be provided
for each resident to secure his personal valuables. One key shall be provided
free of charge to the resident. Additional keys are to be provided to residents
at cost upon request. It is not the home's obligation to pay for additional
keys; and
(2) While a resident may
elect not to use lockable space, it must still be available in the home since
the resident may change his mind. This space shall be accessible only to the
resident and the administrator or supervisor-in-charge. The administrator or
supervisor-in-charge must determine at admission whether the resident desires
lockable space, but the resident may change his mind at any time.
(f) Visiting.
(1) Visiting in the home and community at
reasonable hours shall be encouraged and arranged through the mutual prior
understanding of the residents and administrator;
(2) There must be at least 10 hours each day
for visitation in the home by persons from the community. If a home has
established visiting hours or any restrictions on visitation, information about
the hours and any restrictions must be included in the house rules given to
each resident at the time of admission and posted conspicuously in the
home;
(3) A signout register must
be maintained for planned visiting and other scheduled absences which indicates
the resident's departure time, expected time of return and the name and
telephone number of the responsible party;
(4) If the whereabouts of a resident are
unknown and there is reason to be concerned about his safety, the person in
charge in the home must immediately notify the resident's responsible person,
the appropriate law enforcement agency and the county department of social
services.
Authority
G.S.
131D-2.16;
143B-165;
Eff.
January 1, 1977;
Readopted Eff. October 31, 1977;
Amended Eff. December 1, 1991; April 1, 1987; April 1, 1984;
Pursuant to
G.S.
150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without
substantive public interest Eff. February 16,
2019.
