Current through September 24, 2024
(1) All facilities
shall be constructed according to standards approved by the Tennessee
Department of Health and Environment and the Fire Safety Division of the
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance including the current Life
Safety Code. All new structures and renovations must meet the requirements of
the Title 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
(2) All buildings shall be inspected and
approved annually by the designated Fire Safety Authority and by
representatives from the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment. The
agency must be in compliance with the applicable regulations and standards of
these authorities in order to obtain or retain a license.
(3) Location
The residence shall be located so as to be easily accessible
to community resources such as hospital, shops, transportation, and
recreational facilities.
(4) Buildings
(a) General Structure. The physical plant
shall be suitable and safe, providing adequate space and facilities for the
day-to-day functions of dining, sleeping, study, and recreation.
(b) Living Quarters
1. Sleeping Quarters
(i) There shall be a separate bed with
mattress and springs, and appropriate linens and covers for each
resident.
(ii) There shall be
adequate closet and drawer space.
(iii) In each bedroom there shall be 65
square feet for the first resident and 50 additional square feet for each
additional resident.
(iv) No
facility shall have more than four (4) residents per room.
(v) Apartment quarters or bedrooms which meet
the same standards as those for residents shall be provided for each member of
the live-in staff.
2.
Lounging and Den Areas
(i) There shall be
adequate space for lounging, studying, and visitation in the general living
quarters.
(ii) Telephone facilities
shall be available.
(c) Toilets and baths
1. If the building is more than one story,
toilets shall be located on each floor used by residents.
2. In the sleeping area, there shall be a
ratio or one toilet, lavatory, and shower to every four (4)
residents.
3. Separate toilets and
lavatories shall be available for staff and visitors in the visiting
area.
(d) Dining Room
The dining room shall be attractive, well-lighted,
well-ventilated, and suitably equipped, within easy access to the
kitchen.
(e) Kitchen
1. The kitchen shall be well equipped with a
stove and a refrigerator of appropriate size for the number
accommodated.
2. The kitchen shall
meet the sanitary standards set by the Tennessee Department of Health and
Environment, Appendix A of these rules.
(f) Laundry Facilities
Adequate laundry facilities shall be provided.
(g) Office Space
Provision shall be made for adequate fire-resistant locked
storage space for records.
1. Space
shall be adequate for efficient staff operation and for efficient service to
clients.
2. There shall be private
office space for counseling.
(5) General Maintenance
Provision shall be made for ongoing maintenance and
grounds.
(6) Safety
Requirements
(a) Measures must be taken to
remove hazards and to prevent accidents.
(b) Residents with physical and emotional
handicaps must be protected through appropriate and specific safety
measures.
(c) There must be
adequate smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to ensure fire
safety.
(d) Each home must have
posted, in a visible and accessible location, a written plan for
evacuation.
(e) Residents must be
trained in emergency evacuation procedures,
(f) Emergency telephone numbers must be
immediately accessible to the telephone.
(g) No person or caregiver who has any
physical, mental, or emotional condition which may be harmful to children shall
be allowed to be in the agency's facilities which have been designated for the
care of children, nor shall they be allowed to have any contact, at any time
with children while the children are in the care of the agency or any staff or
volunteers, whether on the site of the agency's facility or
elsewhere.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
4-5-226(b)(2);37-5-101;
37-5-105; 37-5-106; 37-5-112(a); 71-1-105 and 71-1-504.
