Assisted Living Services Agencies in Connecticut
Definition: Assisted living services agencies provide nursing services and assistance with ADLs to people living within a managed residential community having supportive services that encourage residents, primarily over 55, to maintain a maximum level of independence.
Facility Scope of Services: Assisted living services agencies may provide nursing services and assistance with ADLs to residents with chronic and stable conditions as determined by a physician or health care practitioner.
A managed residential community shall provide or arrange to make available core services including regularly scheduled meals, laundry, transportation, housekeeping, social and recreational programs, and other services.
The residential community where people reside must have private residential units that include a full bath, access to facilities and equipment for the preparation and storage of food. Common space in the building must be able to accommodate 50% of the residents at a time. Managed residential communities may not require residents to share a unit.
Life safety: Fire safety is not under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Public Health. They are within the purview of the local authorities. The managed residential communities must provide the department with evidence they are in compliance with local building codes and the State Fire Safety code.
Medication Management: A licensed nurse may administer medications and/or pre-pour medications for clients who are able to self-administer medications. With the approval of the client or his/her representative, an assisted living aide may supervise a client’s self-administration of medications.
Unstable Patients: Residents whose conditions are unstable must either received care from a home health agency, or other appropriate arrangements must be made.
Discharge Policies: there are no set admission or discharge requirements; however each agency must develop written policies for discharge of clients. The policies must include, but not be limited to, change in a residents’ condition when a person is no longer chronic and stable, and what constitutes routine, emergency, financial, and premature discharge.
Resident Assessment: There is no standard form. A client services program must be completed by an RN in consultation with the client, family, or others involved in the care of the patient within 7 days of admission. The assessment must include a list of the patient’s problems and needs, required medications, treatments, types and frequency of services and equipment required,
Staffing for ALSA: The supervisor of assisted living services is responsible for ensuring there are sufficient numbers of assisted living aides to meet the clients’ needs.
Staffing for Managed Residential Community: The residential community must employ an on-site service coordinator with specified duties that include ensuring that services are provided to all tenants and assisting tenants in making arrangements for their personal needs.
Training: The supervisor of Assisted Living Services must be an RN with a BSN, including one year in a home health agency or community health program, or have a degree and 4 years of clinical experience including 1 year working in a home health agency or community health program.
Assisted Living Aide: Aides must have completed a competency exam, and must have successfully completed a training and competency evaluation as either a nurse’s aide or a community home health aide. Aides must complete six hours of continuing education per year.
Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiverscover services for eligible low-income residents.
Person Responsible for licensing ACFs and ALPs in NYSDOH- Guy Warner