Statutes, codes, and regulations
West Virginia Administrative Code
Agency 64 - HealthTitle 64 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Series 64-14 - Assisted Living Residences
Section 64-14-10 - Physical Facilities

W. Va. Code R. § 64-14-10

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Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 36, September 6, 2024
Section 64-14-10 - Physical Facilities
10.1. Physical Facilities and Equipment.
10.1.1. The licensee of an assisted living residence built, renovated, or altered after the effective date of this rule shall maintain the residence in accordance with the requirements of subsection 3.12. of this rule. (Class I)
10.1.2. The licensee shall provide maintenance and housekeeping to the interior and exterior of the residence that maintains a safe, sanitary, and accident-free living environment. (Class I)
10.1.3. The licensee shall establish and conduct a program of preventative maintenance for all equipment as recommended by the manufacturer. (Class III)
10.1.4. The licensee shall keep the interior and exterior of the residence clean and in good repair. (Class II)
10.1.5. The licensee shall keep the residence free of insects, rodents, and vermin. (Class III)
10.1.6. Any method of extermination of insects, rodents, and vermin used by the licensee in the residence shall not create a fire or health hazard. (Class I)
10.1.7. The residence shall have a heating system capable of maintaining a temperature in all rooms used by residents of at least 72 degrees Fahrenheit. (Class II)
10.1.8. The residence shall have cooling devices or a system so that inside temperatures do not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Acceptable cooling devices include, but are not limited to, air conditioners, electric fans, and heat pumps. (Class II)
10.1.9. The residence shall have a call system that is audible to staff and can be accessed from each bed and other areas as necessary for the safety of residents. (Class II)
10.1.10. The Secretary may require the licensee to provide alarm systems for resident safety if a resident exhibits potentially harmful behaviors such as wandering from the residence. (Class I)
10.1.11. The residence shall have space for the storage of linens, maintenance and housekeeping supplies, equipment, and food supplies. (Class II)
10.2. Bedrooms.
10.2.1. The licensee shall provide each resident with a bed in a bedroom and shall not place beds in corridors, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, basement, attic, or any other area not commonly used as a bedroom. (Class II)
10.2.2. In an existing large assisted living residence, bedrooms shall contain at least 80 square feet of floor area per resident. In an existing small assisted living residence, semi-private bedrooms shall contain at least 60 square feet of floor area per resident and private rooms shall contain 80 square feet. (Class III)
10.2.3. In a newly constructed or renovated residence no more than two persons shall occupy a bedroom. In an existing residence no bedroom shall be occupied by more residents than the bed capacity approved by the Secretary on the effective date of this rule. (Class III)
10.2.4. Staff of the residence shall not share bedrooms with residents and shall not use resident bedrooms for any purpose other than to house residents. (Class III)
10.2.5. At least three feet of space shall separate beds. (Class III)
10.2.6. The licensee shall ensure that each resident has a bed and mattress at least 36 inches wide that are substantially constructed, in good repair, comfortable, and able to accommodate the resident's needs and promote independence. (Class III)
10.2.7. Each bed shall have a clean, comfortable pillow, pillow case, two sheets, a bed spread or other type of covering, and additional bed covering to keep residents warm during emergencies and cold weather. (Class III)
10.2.8. The licensee shall ensure that there is a supply of sheets, pillow cases, bed coverings, towels, wash cloths, and other linens necessary to provide a minimum of two changes per bed, and clean bed linens for each resident at least once a week and more often if needed. (Class III)
10.2.9. The licensee shall ensure that every closet door latch can be readily opened from inside in case of emergency. (Class II)
10.2.10. The licensee shall ensure that windows have curtains, shades, or blinds that may be opened and closed and are kept clean and in good repair. (Class III)
10.2.11. The licensee shall ensure that each bedroom has at least the following furniture for each resident:
10.2.11.a. A night stand or the equivalent;
10.2.11.b. A closet, locker, or wardrobe space with a minimum dimension of 20 inches by 22 inches by 60 inches, excluding shelf and storage space;
10.2.11.c. A chest of drawers, or the equivalent, with at least three drawers for the storage of clothing and personal items; and
10.2.11.d. A chair suitable to the resident's needs and an adequate light source for reading. (Class III)
10.2.12. The licensee shall provide bedroom furnishings that are in good repair, reasonably attractive and comfortable, of a nature to suggest a private home setting, and with residents' individual tastes taken into consideration. When space permits, residents' personal furniture may be used. (Class III)
10.3. Toilets, Hand Washing, and Bathing Facilities.
10.3.1. An existing residence's toilet and bathing facilities shall consist of the following:
10.3.1.a A bathroom containing a flushing toilet and hand washing sink, with a mirror over the sink, at a ratio of one toilet and lavatory for every six residents; and
10.3.1.b. A minimum of one bathing facility per floor, with a bath tub or shower, equipped with non-slip surfaces, a flushing toilet, and a hand washing sink; at a ratio of one per 10 residents. (Class III)
10.3.2. The licensee shall ensure that toilet and bathing facilities are provided with liquid soap, toilet tissue, and a sanitary method for drying hands. (Class III)
10.3.3. The licensee shall provide towel bars either in the residents' bedroom or the bathroom. Space for towel bars shall accommodate the number of residents using the bathing facility.
10.3.4. Bath tubs, showers, and sinks shall not be used for storage of linens and clothing to be laundered or for laundering of soiled linens and clothing. (Class III)
10.4. Dining Area and Leisure Area.
10.4.1. The residence shall have a dining area of at least 15 square feet per resident. (Class III)
10.4.2. The residence shall have an area of at least 15 square feet per resident for leisure space that is equipped for reading and recreational purposes. The leisure area shall have furniture that provides good lower back support, arm rests, and that is clean, odor free, and in good repair. (Class III)
10.4.3. The dining room may serve as part of the leisure room. A combined dining and leisure room shall have a minimum of 30 square feet per resident. (Class III)
10.5. Water Supply and Sewage.
10.5.1. The residence shall have hot and cold running water in sufficient supply to meet the needs of the residents, household members, and employees. (Class I)
10.5.2. The licensee shall maintain hot water temperatures above 105 degrees Fahrenheit and no higher than 115 degrees Fahrenheit at all hot water sources, except for dishwashers and laundry facilities. (Class II)
10.5.3. Hot water temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit shall be considered an immediate and serious threat. (Class I)
10.5.4. The licensee shall use a thermostatic mixing valve to control the temperature of hot water tanks exceeding 80-gallon capacity. (Class II)
10.5.5. The residence shall have a sewage system that is adequate to meet the residents' needs, kept in good working order, and properly operated and maintained. (Class II)
10.6. Laundry.
10.6.1. The licensee shall ensure that all laundry is dried mechanically in an electric or gas clothes dryer that is vented to the outside, or that a chemical sanitizing agent is added to the rinse water, and the laundry air-dried. (Class II)
10.6.2. The licensee shall ensure that soiled and clean laundry are not stored together at any time; that soiled laundry is stored in non-absorbent, easily cleanable covered containers, or disposable plastic bags; that table and kitchen linens are laundered separately from other washable goods; and that sanitizing agents are used when laundering kitchen, bath, and bed linens. (Class II)
10.6.3. The licensee shall use locked storage facilities, separate from food and drugs, for laundry supplies, housekeeping supplies, insecticides, work supplies, and any other toxic or hazardous material or equipment. (Class I)
10.7. Pets and Other Animals.
10.7.1. Pets are permitted at assisted living residences, provided that all residents are advised prior to admission that pets are kept on the premises. If pets are added after the admission of residents, all residents shall agree to the addition of the pets. (Class III)
10.7.2. Wild, dangerous, or obviously ill animals are prohibited. (Class I)
10.7.3. The licensee shall keep animals and the animals' quarters in a clean condition at all times. (Class I)
10.7.4. The licensee shall maintain proof that dogs and cats kept in the assisted living residence or on the grounds are properly vaccinated. For dogs, this includes rabies, leptospirosis, distemper, and parvo; and for cats, this includes rabies. (Class II)

W. Va. Code R. § 64-14-10