Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-62-.12 - Home Design Requirements

(1) A home must be constructed, arranged, and maintained to provide adequately for all of the following:

(a) Health, safety, and well-being of the residents.

(b) Independence, privacy and dignity of the residents.

(c) Safe access of all residents with varying degrees of functional impairments to living, dining and activity areas within the home.

(2) A currently licensed home which undergoes major structural renovation or one that is first licensed after the effective date of these rules must be designed and constructed in compliance with applicable state and local building and fire codes.

(3) Where the home intends to make changes to the home which would result in a change to the floor sketch from the one that was submitted at the time of initial licensing or certificate of need review, the home must have such proposed changes approved by the Department.

(4) Any renovations to the home which put the home out of compliance with these rules may subject the home to revocation of its license.

(5) Common Areas. The home must provide common living areas for the use of the residents.

(a) Separate and distinct sleeping and living areas must be provided which allow for necessary supervision and assistance by staff and are conveniently located within easy walking distance of each resident's private living space (room), available for the residents' informal use at any time and do not require any resident to leave the building to use.

(b) Living rooms must be provided which are large enough to accommodate the residents without crowding. The rooms must be comfortably and attractively furnished, well heated, well lighted, ventilated and clean.

(c) The home must have handrails, grab bars, doorways and corridors which accommodate permitted mobility devices, such as walkers, motorized scooters, wheel chairs and crutches or canes as the residents require for their safety and allow the residents to move about the home freely.

(d) The home must provide an area for use by residents and visitors which affords privacy.

(e) The home must place at least one current calendar and working clock in the common living area.

(f) The home must provide a comfortable dining area which is properly equipped and adequate in size for the number of residents being served.

(g) The home must provide a means of locked storage for any resident's valuables or personal belongings, upon request.

(h) No living room, dining room, hallway, and any other room not ordinarily used for sleeping is permitted to be used for sleeping by residents, family, staff or renters.

(i) A home must provide laundering facilities on the premises for the residents' personal laundry that prevents the cross-contamination of clean and dirty laundry.

(6) Bedrooms or Private Living Spaces. The following minimum standards for resident bedrooms or private living spaces must be met:

(a) Bedrooms or private living spaces must have at least 80 square feet of usable floor space per resident. Usable floor space is defined as that floor space under a ceiling at least seven feet in height. However, licensed personal care homes approved prior to or on February 6, 1981 to operate with bedrooms or private living spaces with a minimum of 70 square feet of usable floor space per resident which have continuously operated since that date may continue to use the minimum 70 square feet standard. Where a home operating under this exception has its permit revoked, changes ownership, changes location, or undergoes extensive renovations, or for any other reason surrenders its permit, this exception regarding the minimum square footage is no longer available.

(b) There shall be no more than four residents per bedroom or private living space unless the home is presently permitted to serve more than four residents per bedroom or private living space and no change in the ownership, location or licensure status of the home occurs.

(c) Each bedroom or private living space must have at least one window opening through an exterior wall of the home. Bedrooms or private living spaces must be well ventilated and maintained at a comfortable temperature.

(d) If the residents specifically choose in writing to share a private bedroom or living space with another resident of the home, then the residents must be permitted to share the room, subject to the usable square feet requirement and the limitation that no more than four residents may share any bedroom or private living space.

(e) Bedrooms or private living spaces for residents must be separated from halls, corridors and other rooms by floor to ceiling walls.

(f) The floor plan of the home must be such that no person other than the residents assigned to a bedroom or private living space should pass through that residents' bedroom or private living space in order to reach another room.

(g) Doorways of bedrooms or private living spaces occupied by residents must be equipped with side-hinged permanently mounted doors equipped with positively latching hardware which will insure opening of the door by a single motion, such as turning a knob or by pressing with normal strength on a latch. For bedrooms or private living spaces which have locks on doors, both the occupant and administrator or on-site manager must be provided with keys to assure easy entry and exit.

(h) A room must not be used as a bedroom or private living space where more than one-half the room height is below ground level. Bedrooms or private living spaces which are partially below ground level must have adequate natural light and ventilation and be provided with two useful means of egress. Control of dampness must be assured.

(i) When a resident is discharged, the room and its contents must be thoroughly cleaned.

(7) Bathroom Facilities . The following minimum standards apply to bathroom facilities:

(a) At least one functional toilet and lavatory must be provided for each four residents and at least one bathing or showering facility must be provided for each eight residents living in a home.

(b) At least one toilet and lavatory must be provided on each floor having residents' bedrooms.

(c) Grab bars and nonskid surfacing or strips must be installed in all showers and bath areas.

(d) Bathrooms and toilet facilities without windows must have forced ventilation to the outside. Bathroom windows used for ventilation must open easily.

(e) Toilets, bathtubs and showers must provide for individual privacy.

(f) All plumbing and bathroom fixtures must be maintained in good working order at all times and must present a clean and sanitary appearance.

(g) A home serving a person dependent upon a wheelchair or scooter for mobility must have at least one bathroom that permits the resident to use all bathroom fixtures easily and independently where able.

(8) Interior Design and Construction. The home must be designed and built to provide for the following:

(a) All stairways and ramps must have sturdy and securely fastened handrails, not less than 30 inches nor more than 34 inches above the center of the tread. Exterior stairways, decks and porches must have handrails on the open sides.

(b) Floor covering must be intact and securely fastened to the floor. Any hazard that may cause tripping must be removed.

(c) All areas of the home, including hallways and stairs must provide sufficient ambient lighting such that the residents may move about safely and objects may be easily observed by the residents. In addition, appropriate task lighting necessary for more visually demanding activities such as reading, knitting or preparing food must also be provided for resident use.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-62-.12

O.C.G.A. Secs. 31-2-7, 31-2-9, 31-7-1, 31-7-2.1, 31-7-3, 31-7-12.

Original Rule entitled "Inspections" adopted. F. Nov. 19, 2009; eff. Dec. 9, 2009. Amended: New Title "Home Design Requirements". F. Dec. 19, 2012; eff. Jan. 8, 2013.