Standards for respite care services | NJ

STANDARDS FOR RESPITE CARE SERVICES

 

8:36-20.1       Scope and purpose

 

  • Assisted living facilities are permitted to accept short-term residents whose regular caregivers are participating in a respite care program. A “caregiver” is defined as any individual, paid or unpaid, who provides regular in- home care for an elderly, disabled, or cognitively impaired

 

  • When a caregiver desires respite from this responsibility, continuity of care for the elderly, disabled, or cognitively impaired person is available through temporary placement in an assisted living facility for a period of time specified in advance.

 

  • The standards in this subchapter apply only to those assisted living facilities that operate a respite care

 

8:36-20.2       Mandatory policies and procedures

 

  • The assisted living facility shall have written respite care policies and procedures that are retained by the administrative staff and available to all staff and to members of the public, including those participating in the

 

  • The facility shall obtain the following information from the resident’s attending physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant prior to admission:

 

  1. A summary of the resident’s medical history and most recent physical examination;

 

  1. Signed and dated medication and treatment orders for the resident’s stay in the facility; and

 

  1. Phone numbers of the attending physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant, and an alternate physician, advanced practice nurse or physician assistant, for consultation or emergency

 

  • The facility shall choose whether to follow the resident care plan provided by the attending physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant, or to establish a plan in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:36-7. The facility is exempt from compliance with J.A.C. 8:36-7, if it chooses to follow the care plan provided by the resident’s attending physician, advanced practice nurse or physician assistant.

 

  • The facility shall obtain the following information from the resident’s regular caregiver(s):

 

  1. Nursing care needs, including personal hygiene and restorative maintenance care;

 

  1. Dietary routine and preferences; and

 

  1. Social and activity routine and

 

  • The facility shall choose whether to follow the dietary and activity plan provided by the caregiver(s) or to establish a plan in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:36-10 and 12, respectively. The facility is exempt from compliance with

N.J.A.C. 8:36-10 and 12, if it chooses to follow the plan provided by the caregiver(s).

 

  • The pharmacist shall establish policies and procedures for providing pharmacy services for the respite care program according to the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and other applicable rules and regulations. These policies and procedures shall include the following:

 

  1. Options, if any, for provision of resident medications by sources other than the facility’s usual provider(s);

 

  1. Labeling and packaging of medications;

 

  1. Self-administration of medications, if applicable; and

 

  1. Control measures.

 

  • The facility shall apply to respite care residents all the applicable standards contained in this chapter, except those exemptions cited in this section, and in N.J.A.C. 8:36-4.1(a)11 and 1(e).

 

8:36-20.3       Staffing

 

The assisted living facility shall incorporate the care plan, as identified in

N.J.A.C. 8:36-20.2(c) through (e) of each respite care resident into the regular schedule of care provided by the facility.