Should you continue residency

I hate to break it to you- but there will come a time when you must discharge a resident. I know as administrators and nursing leaders we believe we can save everyone, but there will be circumstances where the resident just will not be able to meet the criteria to live in an ALF. See the regulation below provided by Texas HHSC for the specifics on how and why you will need to terminate the residency agreement:

RULE 553.41     Standards for Type A and Type B Assisted Living Facilities

(f) Inappropriate placement in Type A or Type B facilities.

(1) DADS or a facility may determine that a resident is inappropriately placed in the facility if a resident experiences a change of condition but continues to meet the facility evacuation criteria.

(A) If DADS determines the resident is inappropriately placed and the facility is willing to retain the resident, the facility is not required to discharge the resident if, within 10 working days after receiving the Statement of Licensing Violations and Plan of Correction, Form 3724, and the Report of Contact, Form 3614-A, from DADS, the facility submits the following to the DADS regional office:

(i) Physician’s Assessment, Form 1126, indicating that the resident is appropriately placed and describing the resident’s medical conditions and related nursing needs, ambulatory and transfer abilities, and mental status;

(ii) Resident’s Request to Remain in Facility, Form 1125, indicating that:

(I) the resident wants to remain at the facility; or

(II) if the resident lacks the capacity to provide a written statement, the resident’s family member or legally authorized representative wants the resident to remain at the facility; and

(iii) Facility Request, Form 1124, indicating that the facility agrees that the resident may remain at the facility.

(B) If the facility initiates the request for an inappropriately placed resident to remain in the facility, the facility must complete and date the forms described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and submit them to the DADS regional office within 10 working days after the date the facility determines the resident is inappropriately placed, as indicated on the DADS prescribed forms.

(2) DADS or a facility may determine that a resident is inappropriately placed in the facility if the facility does not meet all requirements referenced in §92.3 of this chapter (relating to Types of Assisted Living Facilities) for the evacuation of a designated resident.

(A) If, during a site visit, DADS determines that a resident is inappropriately placed at the facility and the facility is willing to retain the resident, the facility must request an evacuation waiver as described in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph to the DADS regional office within 10 working days after the date the facility receives the Statement of Licensing Violations and Plan of Correction, Form 372, and the Report of Contact, Form 3614-A. If the facility is not willing to retain the resident, the facility must discharge the resident within 30 days after receiving the Statement of Licensing Violations and Plan of Correction and the Report of Contact.

(B) If the facility initiates the request for a resident to remain in the facility, the facility must request an evacuation waiver as described in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph from the DADS regional office within 10 working days after the date the facility determines the resident is inappropriately placed, as indicated on the DADS prescribed forms.

(C) To request an evacuation waiver for an inappropriately placed resident, a facility must submit to the DADS regional office:

(i) Physician’s Assessment, Form 1126, indicating that the resident is appropriately placed and describing the resident’s medical conditions and related nursing needs, ambulatory and transfer abilities, and mental status;

(ii) Resident’s Request to Remain in Facility, Form 1125, indicating that:

(I) the resident wants to remain at the facility; or

(II) if the resident lacks the capacity to provide a written statement, the resident’s family member or legally authorized representative wants the resident to remain at the facility;

(iii) Facility Request, Form 1124, indicating that the facility agrees that the resident may remain at the facility;

(iv) a detailed emergency plan that explains how the facility will meet the evacuation needs of the resident, including:

(I) the specific staff positions that will be on duty to assist with evacuation and their shift times;

(II) specific staff positions that will be on duty and awake at night; and

(III) specific staff training that relates to resident evacuation;

(v) a copy of an accurate facility floor plan, to scale, that labels all rooms by use and indicates the specific resident’s room;

(vi) a copy of the facility’s emergency evacuation plan;

(vii) a copy of the facility fire drill records for the last 12 months;

(viii) a copy of a completed Fire Marshal/State Fire Marshal Notification, Form 1127, signed by the fire authority having jurisdiction (either the local Fire Marshal or State Fire Marshal) as an acknowledgment that the fire authority has been notified that the resident’s evacuation capability has changed;

(ix) a copy of a completed Fire Suppression Authority Notification, Form 1129, signed by the local fire suppression authority as an acknowledgment that the fire suppression authority has been notified that the resident’s evacuation capability has changed;

(x) a copy of the resident’s most recent comprehensive assessment that addresses the areas required by subsection (c) of this section and that was completed within 60 days, based on the date stated on the evacuation waiver form submitted to DADS;

(xi) the resident’s service plan that addresses all aspects of the resident’s care, particularly those areas identified by DADS, including:

(I) the resident’s medical condition and related nursing needs;

(II) hospitalizations within 60 days, based on the date stated on the evacuation waiver form submitted to DADS;

(III) any significant change in condition in the last 60 days, based on the date stated on the evacuation waiver form submitted to DADS;

(IV) specific staffing needs; and

(V) services that are provided by an outside provider;

(xii) any other information that relates to the required fire safety features of the facility that will ensure the evacuation capability of any resident; and

(xiii) service plans of other residents, if requested by DADS.

(D) A facility must meet the following criteria to receive a waiver from DADS:

(i) The emergency plan submitted in accordance with subparagraph (C)(iv) of this paragraph must ensure that:

(I) staff is adequately trained;

(II) a sufficient number of staff is on all shifts to move all residents to a place of safety;

(III) residents will be moved to appropriate locations, given health and safety issues;

(IV) all possible locations of fire origin areas and the necessity for a full evacuation of the building are addressed;

(V) the fire alarm signal is adequate;

(VI) there is an effective method for warning residents and staff during a malfunction of the building fire alarm system;

(VII) there is a method to effectively communicate the actual location of the fire; and

(VIII) the plan satisfies any other safety concerns that could have an effect on the residents’ safety in the event of a fire; and

(ii) the emergency plan will not have an adverse effect on other residents of the facility who have waivers of evacuation or who have special needs that require staff assistance.

(E) DADS reviews the documentation submitted under this subsection and notifies the facility in writing of its determination to grant or deny the waiver within 10 working days after the date the request is received in the DADS regional office.

(F) Upon notification that DADS has granted the evacuation waiver, the facility must immediately initiate all provisions of the proposed emergency plan. If the facility does not follow the emergency plan, and there are health and safety concerns that are not addressed, DADS may determine that there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of a resident.

(G) DADS reviews a waiver of evacuation during the facility’s annual renewal licensing inspection.

(3) If a DADS surveyor determines that a resident is inappropriately placed at a facility and the facility either agrees with the determination or fails to obtain the written statements or waiver required in this subsection, the facility must discharge the resident.

(A) The resident is allowed 30 days after the date of notice of discharge to move from the facility.

(B) A discharge required under this subsection must be made notwithstanding:

(i) any other law, including any law relating to the rights of residents and any obligations imposed under the Property Code; and

(ii) the terms of any contract.

(4) If a facility is required to discharge the resident because the facility has not submitted the written statements required by paragraph (1) of this subsection to the DADS regional office, or DADS denies the waiver as described in paragraph (2) of this subsection, DADS may:

(A) assess an administrative penalty if DADS determines the facility has intentionally or repeatedly disregarded the waiver process because the resident is still residing in the facility when DADS conducts a future onsite visit; or

(B) seek other sanctions, including an emergency suspension or closing order, against the facility under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 247, Subchapter C (relating to General Enforcement), if DADS determines there are a significant risk and immediate threat to the health and safety of a resident of the facility.

(5) The facility’s disclosure statement must notify the resident and resident’s legally authorized representative of the waiver process described in this section and the facility’s policies and procedures for aging in place.

(6) After the first year of employment and no later than the anniversary date of the facility manager’s hire date, the manager must show evidence of annual completion of DADS training on aging in place and retaliation.

Pro Tip:

If you begin to suspect that a resident no longer meets the criteria to remain in your facility, I highly suggest you begin the documentation process to build your case to discharge this resident. If you have your ducks in a row and have notes supporting your case the process will go much more smoothly.