La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-9077

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-9077 - Interior Space [Formerly Section 9063]

A. The arrangement, appearance and furnishing of all of the interior areas of the facility shall be similar to those of a normal family home within the community.

B. The provider shall ensure that there is evidence of routine maintenance and cleaning programs in all of the areas of the facility.

C. Each living unit of a facility shall contain a space for the free and informal use of the residents. This space shall be constructed and equipped in a manner in keeping with the programmatic goals of the facility.

D. A facility shall have a minimum of 60 square feet of floor area per resident in living areas accessible to the residents and excluding halls, closets, bathrooms, bedrooms, staff or staff's family quarters, laundry areas, storage areas and office areas.

E. Resident Bedrooms

1. Single rooms shall contain at least 80 square feet and multi-bed rooms shall contain at least 60 square feet per bed, exclusive of fixed cabinets, fixtures, and equipment.

2. All PRTFs shall have bedroom space that does not permit more than two residents per designated bedroom.

a. Exception. If the facility maintains a valid child residential license from DCFS, has more than two residents per bedroom and is converting to a PRTF, the PRTF may have bedroom space that allows no more than four residents per designated bedroom.

3. Rooms shall have at least a 7 1/2 foot ceiling height over the required area. In a room with varying ceiling height, only portions of the room with a ceiling height of at least 7 1/2 feet are allowed in determining usable space.

4. There shall be at least 3 feet between beds.

5. There shall be sufficient and satisfactory separate storage space for clothing, toilet articles and other personal belongings of residents.

6. There shall be at least one toilet bowl with accessories, lavatory basin and bathing facility reserved for resident use on each resident floor and additional toilets, lavatories, and bathing facilities to adequately meet the needs of employees, professional personnel and residents on each unit.

7. Doors to individual bedrooms shall not be equipped with locks or any other device that would prohibit the door from being opened from either side.

8. The provider shall not use any room that does not have a window as a bedroom space.

9. The provider shall ensure that sheets, pillow, bedspread and blankets are provided for each resident. Enuretic residents shall have mattresses with moisture resistant covers. Sheets and pillowcases shall be changed at least weekly, but shall be changed more frequently if necessary.

10. Each resident shall have his/her own dresser or other adequate storage space for private use and designated space for hanging clothing in proximity to the bedroom occupied by the resident.

11. No resident over the age of five years shall occupy a bedroom with a member of the opposite sex.

12. The provider shall ensure that the ages of residents sharing bedroom space are not greater than four years in difference unless contraindicated based on diagnosis, the treatment plan, or the behavioral health assessment of the resident.

13. Each resident shall have his/her own bed. A residents bed shall be longer than the resident is tall, no less than 30 inches wide, of solid construction and shall have a clean, comfortable, nontoxic fire retardant mattress.

14. Mobile homes shall not be used for resident sleeping areas.

15. The use of bunk beds is prohibited in resident bedrooms.

16. If the PRTF has a sexually-based treatment program, the residents of that program shall reside in its own unit or wing of the PRTF that is separate from the unit or wing housing the other residents. Residents of the sexually-based treatment program shall reside in single rooms with only one bed per bedroom.

F. Dining Areas

1. The facility shall have dining areas that permit residents, staff and guests to eat together in small groups.

2. A facility shall have dining areas that are clean, well lit, ventilated, and attractively furnished.

G. Bathrooms

1. A facility shall have wash basins with hot and cold water, flush toilets, and bath or shower facilities with hot and cold water according to resident care needs.

a. Bathrooms shall be so placed as to allow access without disturbing other resident during sleeping hours.

b. Each bathroom shall be properly equipped with toilet paper, towels, soap and other items required for personal hygiene unless residents are individually given such items. Residents shall be provided individual items such as hair brushes and toothbrushes.

c. Tubs and showers shall have slip proof surfaces.

d. The PRTF shall have at a minimum the following:

i. one lavatory per eight male residents and one lavatory per eight female residents;

ii. one toilet per eight male residents and one toilet per eight female residents; and

iii. one shower or tub per eight male residents and one shower or tub per eight female residents.

2. A facility shall have toilets and baths or showers that allow for individual privacy unless the residents in care require assistance.

3. Toilets, wash basins and other plumbing or sanitary facilities in a facility shall, at all times, be maintained in good operating condition and shall be kept free of any materials that might clog or otherwise impair their operation.

H. Kitchens

1. Kitchens used for meal preparations shall have the equipment necessary for the preparation, serving, storage, and clean up of all meals regularly served to all of the residents and staff. All equipment shall be maintained in proper working order.

2. The provider shall ensure that all dishes, cups and glasses used by residents are free from chips, cracks or other defects and are in sufficient number to accommodate all residents.

I. Administrative and Counseling Area

1. The provider shall provide a space that is distinct from resident's living areas to serve as an administrative office for records, secretarial work and bookkeeping.

2. The provider shall have a designated space to allow private discussions and counseling sessions between individual residents and staff, excluding, bedrooms and common living areas.

J. Furnishings

1. The provider shall have comfortable customary furniture as appropriate for all living areas. Furniture for the use of residents shall be appropriately designed to suit the size and capabilities of the residents.

2. The provider shall promptly replace or repair broken, run-down, or defective furnishings and equipment.

K. Doors and Windows

1. The provider shall provide insect screens for all windows that can be opened. The screens shall be in good repair and readily removable in emergencies.

2. The provider shall ensure that all closets, bedrooms and bathrooms are equipped with doors that can be readily opened from both sides.

3. Windows or vents shall be arranged and located so that they can be opened from the inside to permit venting of combustion products and to permit occupants direct access to fresh air in emergencies. The operation of windows shall be restricted to inhibit possible escape or suicide. If the PRTF has an approved engineered smoke control system, the windows may be fixed. Where glass fragments pose a hazard to certain residents, safety glazing and/or other appropriate security features shall be used. There shall be no curtain or venetian blind chords.

L. Storage

1. The provider shall ensure that there are sufficient and appropriate storage facilities.

2. The provider shall have securely locked storage space for all potentially harmful materials. Keys to such storage spaces shall only be available to authorized staff members.

M. Electrical Systems

1. The provider shall ensure that all electrical equipment, wiring, switches, sockets and outlets are maintained in good order and in safe condition.

2. The provider shall ensure that any room, corridor or stairway within a facility shall be well lit.

N. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

1. The provider shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure that heating elements, including exposed hot water pipes, are insulated and installed in a manner that ensures the safety of all residents.

2. The provider shall not use open flame heating equipment or portable electrical heaters.

3. All gas heating units and water heaters shall be vented adequately to carry the products of combustion to the outside atmosphere. Vents shall be constructed and maintained to provide a continuous draft to the outside atmosphere in accordance with the recommended procedures of the American Gas Association Testing Laboratories, Inc.

4. All heating units shall be provided with a sufficient supply of outside air so as to support combustion without depletion of the air in the occupied room.

O. Smoking shall be prohibited in all areas of the PRTF.

P. The layout, design of details, equipment and furnishings shall be such that patients shall be under close observation and shall not be afforded opportunities for hiding, escape or injury to themselves or others. The environment of the unit shall be characterized by a feeling of openness with emphasis on natural light and exterior views. Interior finishes, lighting and furnishings shall suggest a residential rather than an institutional setting while conforming with applicable fire safety codes. Security and safety devices shall not be presented in a manner to attract or challenge tampering by patients.

Q. Seclusion Room

1. A PRTF shall have a seclusion room. This room shall be free of potentially hazardous conditions such as unprotected light fixtures and electrical outlets.

2. The room(s) shall be either located for direct nursing staff supervision or observed through the use of electronic monitoring equipment. If electronic monitoring equipment is used, it shall be connected to the facility's emergency electrical source.

3. Each room shall be for single occupancy and contain at least 60 square feet. It shall be constructed to prevent resident hiding, escape, injury or suicide.

R. Where grab bars are provided, they shall be institutional type, shall not rotate within their fittings, be securely fastened with tamper-proof screw heads, and shall be free of any sharp or abrasive elements. If grab bars are mounted adjacent to a wall, the space between the wall and the grab bar shall be 1 1/2 inches.

S. Where towel racks, closet and shower curtain rods are provided, they shall be the breakaway type.

T. Plastic bags and/or trash can liners shall not be used in patient care areas.

U. The provider shall have a laundry space complete with a minimum of one clothes washer and dryer for each 50 persons.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-9077

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 30:66 (January 2004), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 38:391 (February 2012), LR 39:2510 (September 2013), Amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 44293 (2/1/2018).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and R.S. 40:2009.