Regulation: 59A-36.007(5)(d) – Resident Rights and Facility Procedures
One of the most overlooked — yet critical — parts of your admission process is the written House Rules and Procedures. Under Florida regulation 59A-36.007(5)(d), every assisted living facility is required to include this document in the admission package.
This isn’t just a best practice — it’s a requirement. And it must address 10 specific areas.
What Must Be Included?
Your written house rules must cover your facility’s policies on:
- Resident responsibilities
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Medication storage
- Resident elopement
- Reporting resident abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Administrative and housekeeping schedules
- Infection control, sanitation, and standard precautions
- Coordination of third-party services
- Assistive devices
- Physical restraints
Even if your staff is well-trained and your facility is clean and compliant in every other area, missing or incomplete house rules can still result in a citation.
Tips to Stay Compliant
- Create a dedicated “House Rules” document covering all 10 required topics.
- Include the document in every admission package and have residents or their representatives sign a form confirming receipt.
- Keep a copy in each resident’s file for easy access during inspections.
- Train your team on enforcing the policies outlined in the house rules.
- Update the document as needed when policies or procedures change.
Final Thoughts
This regulation is easy to comply with — but just as easy to overlook. Taking time to review and update your house rules now can help you avoid surprises during your next AHCA inspection.
If you need help reviewing your documents or creating a compliant House Rules form, reach out to us at ALF Boss — we’re here to help you stay inspection-ready.