Qualifications and responsibility of the administrator
The responsibilities of an ALF administrator are all-encompassing. Your day can start out by working on the financials, paying the bills of course. Next thing you know the dietary team is short a server and you must go in the dining room to wait tables. After lunch, you might even get to unclog a toilet! The opportunities are limitless. While the role can be exhausting and always changing it is one of the most rewarding experiences possible to lead a team that is responsible for the care of our seniors in a community. The state of Pennsylvania has outlined the qualifications and responsibilities of the administrator in the following regulation provided by the DHS:
- 2800.53. Qualifications and responsibilities of administrators.
(a) The administrator shall have one of the following qualifications:
(1) A license as an RN from the Department of State and 1 year, in the prior 10 years, of direct care or administrative experience in a health care or human services field.
(2) An associate’s degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university in a human services field and 1 year, in the prior 10 years, of direct care or administrative experience in a health care or human services field.
(3) An associate’s degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university in a field that is not related to human services and 2 years, in the prior 10 years, of direct care or administrative experience in a health care or human services field.
(4) A license as an LPN from the Department of State and 1 year, in the prior 10 years, of direct care or administrative experience in a health care or human services field.
(5) A license as a nursing home administrator from the Department of State and 1 year, in the prior 10 years, of direct care or administrative experience in a health care or human services field.
(6) With the exception of administrators qualified under § 2600.53(a)(5) (relating to qualifications and responsibilities of administrators), experience as a personal care home administrator, if the following requirements are met:
(i) Employed as a personal care home administrator for 2 years prior to January 18, 2011.
(ii) Completed the administrator training requirements and pass the Department-approved competency-based training test in § 2800.64 (relating to administrator training and orientation) by January 18, 2012.
(b) The administrator shall be 21 years of age or older.
(c) The administrator shall be responsible for the administration and management of the residence, including the health, safety and well-being of the residents, implementation of policies and procedures and compliance with this chapter.
(d) The administrator shall have the ability to provide assisted living services or to supervise or direct the work to provide assisted living services.
(e) The administrator shall have knowledge of this chapter.
(f) The administrator shall have the ability to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including this chapter.
(g) The administrator shall have the ability to maintain or supervise the maintenance of financial and other records.
(h) At all times the administrator shall be free from a medical condition, including drug or alcohol addiction that would limit the administrator from performing duties with reasonable skill and safety.
Top Takeaway:
- (e) The administrator shall have knowledge of this chapter.
(f) The administrator shall have the ability to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including this chapter.
Above all else the administrator needs to be extremely knowledgeable of the regulations for the operation of an assisted living facility. The administrator is responsible for each rule and regulation and held accountable for the deficiencies of the Department of Human Services inspections.