Administration | AL

Administration

So, you have decided you want to be an Assisted Living Facility administrator in the state of Alabama? Where do you even begin? This is a high-pressure position, full of long hours and difficult conversations. But it is extremely rewarding if your heart is in it for the right reasons and will leave you everlasting memories of providing care for seniors. Check out the following regulation provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health:

420-5-4-.03 Administration.

(2) The Administrator.

(a) Responsibility.

  1. The administrator shall be a direct representative of the governing authority in the management of the assisted living facility and shall be responsible to the governing authority for the proper performance of his or her duties.
  2. Any individual employed as an administrator shall be properly licensed.
  3. Any individual employed as an administrator shall meet all applicable statutory requirements.
  4. There must be an individual with experience in the day-to-day operation of the facility, who is authorized in writing, to act for the administrator during absences.
  5. The administrator and any individual authorized to act as a substitute shall be at least 19 years of age.
  6. The administrator and any individual authorized to act as a substitute shall be of reputable and responsible character.
  7. The administrator shall ensure that adequate personnel is employed and on duty to meet the care needs of all residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  8. The administrator shall manage and direct staff activities in a manner that results in the maintenance of a neat, clean, orderly, and safe environment and adequate care being provided at all times. If a facility has an adequate number of staff members on duty to meet the care and safety needs of all residents, but adequate care and safety are not being provided, then the facility does not meet this administration and management requirement.
  9. The facility administrator is responsible for ensuring that required training is provided to all staff.
  10. The administrator shall ensure that residents who have health or safety needs beyond the capability of the facility will be safely transferred or discharged to an appropriate setting.
  11. The administrator shall ensure that facility staff members observe each resident for changes in health and physical abilities and obtain appropriate medical Assisted Living Facilities 420-5-4 23 attention when needed.
  12. The administrator shall ensure that plans of care for all residents are current and appropriate. This shall include the prearranged discharge plan.
  13. The administrator shall ensure that all deficient practices cited by the Department are corrected in a timely manner and that corrections are maintained.

(b) In family and group assisted living facilities, the governing authority and the administrator may be the same individual.

(c) Department Notification.

  1. The licensee of an assisted living facility shall provide written notification of voluntary closure of the facility to the State Board of Health at least 30 days prior to the expected closure date.
  2. The State Board of Health shall be provided written notification not later than 15 days after any change in administrator.
  3. The State Board of Health shall be provided written notification not later than 15 days after any change in the management company.

(d) Protection.

  1. An assisted living facility must meet the applicable provisions of federal law and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, or national origin; nondiscrimination on the basis of handicap; nondiscrimination on the basis of age; protection of human subjects of research; and protection from fraud and abuse. Although federal law and regulations are not normally surveyed and enforced by the State Board of Health in assisted living facilities, serious violations of these provisions of law may nevertheless constitute grounds for adverse licensure action.
  2. An assisted living facility shall obey all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations.
  3. Licensing of Staff. The staff of the facility shall be currently licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with applicable laws.
  4. Compliance with Other Laws. An assisted living facility shall comply with laws relating to fire and life safety, sanitation, and communicable and reportable diseases.