17.63—Approval of community residential care facilities.

The approving official may approve a community residential care facility, based on the report of a VA inspection and on any findings of necessary interim monitoring of the facility, if that facility meets the following standards:

(a) Health and safety standards. The facility must:

(1) Meet all State and local regulations including construction, maintenance, and sanitation regulations;

(2) Meet the requirements in the applicable provisions of NFPA 101 and NFPA 101A (incorporated by reference, see § 17.1) and the other publications referenced in those provisions. The institution shall provide sufficient staff to assist patients in the event of fire or other emergency. Any equivalencies or variances to VA requirements must be approved by the appropriate Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Director;

(3) Have safe and functioning systems for heating and/or cooling, as needed (a heating or cooling system is deemed to be needed if VA determines that, in the county, parish, or similar jurisdiction where the facility is located, a majority of community residential care facilities or other extended care facilities have one), hot and cold water, electricity, plumbing, sewage, cooking, laundry, artificial and natural light, and ventilation.

(4) Meet the following additional requirements, if the provisions for One and Two-Family Dwellings, as defined in NFPA 101, are applicable to the facility:

(i) Portable fire extinguishers must be installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 (incorporated by reference, see § 17.1 ); and

(ii) The facility must meet the requirements in section 33.7 of NFPA 101.

(b) [Reserved]

(1) Have comfortable dining areas, adequate in size for the number of residents;

(2) Have confortable living room areas, adequate in size to accommodate a reasonable proportion of residents; and

(3) Maintain at least one functional toilet and lavatory, and bathing or shower facility for every six people living in the facility, including provider and staff.

(d) Laundry service. The facility must provide or arrange for laundry service.

(e) Residents' bedrooms. Residents' bedrooms must:

(1) Contain no more than four beds;

(2) Measure, exclusive of closet space, at least 100 square feet for a single-resident room, or 80 square feet for each resident in a multiresident room; and

(3) Contain a suitable bed for each resident and appropriate furniture and furnishings.

(f) Nutrition. The facility must:

(1) Provide a safe and sanitary food service that meets individual nutritional requirements and residents' preferences;

(2) Plan menus to meet currently recommended dietary allowances;

(g) Activities. The facility must plan and facilitate appropriate recreational and leisure activities to meet individual needs.

(h) Residents' rights. The facility must have written policies and procedures that ensure the following rights for each resident:

(1) Each resident has the right to:

(i) Be informed of the rights described in this section;

(ii) The confidentiality and nondisclosure of information obtained by community residential care facility staff on the residents and the residents' records subject to the requirements of applicable law;

(iii) Be able to inspect the residents' own records kept by the community residential care facility;

(iv) Exercise rights as a citizen; and

(v) Voice grievances and make recommendations concerning the policies and procedures of the facility.

(2) Financial affairs. Residents must be allowed to manage their own personal financial affairs, except when the resident has been restricted in this right by law. If a resident requests assistance from the facility in managing personal financial affairs the request must be documented.

(3) Privacy. Residents must:

(i) Be treated with respect, consideration, and dignity;

(ii) Have access, in reasonable privacy, to a telephone within the facility;

(iii) Be able to send and receive mail unopened and uncensored; and

(iv) Have privacy of self and possessions.

(4) Work. No resident will perform household duties, other than personal housekeeping tasks, unless the resident receives compensation for these duties or is told in advance they are voluntary and the patient agrees to do them.

(5) Freedom of association. Residents have the right to:

(i) Receive visitors and associate freely with persons and groups of their own choosing both within and outside the facility;

(ii) Make contacts in the community and achieve the highest level of independence, autonomy, and interaction in the community of which the resident is capable;

(iii) Leave and return freely to the facility, and

(iv) Practice the religion of their own choosing or choose to abstain from religious practice.

(6) Transfer. Residents have the right to transfer to another facility or to an independent living situation.

(i) Records. (1) The facility must maintain records on each resident in a secure place.

(2) Facility records must include:

(i) Emergency notification procedures; and

(ii) A copy of all signed agreements with the resident.

(3) Records may only be disclosed with the resident's permission, or when required by law.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2900-0491)

(j) Staff requirements. (1) Sufficient, qualified staff must be on duty and available to care for the resident and ensure the health and safety of each resident.

(2) The community residential care provider and staff must have the following qualifications: Adequate education, training, or experience to maintain the facility.

(k) Cost of community residential care. (1) Payment for the charges of community residential care is not the responsibility of the United States Government or VA.

(2) The resident or an authorized personal representative and a representative of the community residential care facility must agree upon the charge and payment procedures for community residential care.

(3) The charges for community residential care must be reasonable:

(i) For residents in a community residential care facility as of June 14, 1989, the rates charged for care are pegged to the facility's basic rate for care as of July 31, 1987. Increases in the pegged rate during any calendar year cannot exceed the annual percentage increase in the National Consumer Price Index (CPI) for that year;

(ii) For community residential care facilities approved after July 31, 1987, the rates for care shall not exceed 110 percent of the average rate for approved facilities in that State as of March 31, 1987. Increases in this rate during any calendar year cannot exceed the annual percentage increase in the National Consumer Price Index (CPI) for that year.

(iii) The approving official may approve a deviation from the requirements of paragraphs (k)(3)(i) through (ii) of this section upon request from a community residential care facility representative, a resident in the facility, or an applicant for residency, if the approving official determines that the cost of care for the resident will be greater than the average cost of care for other residents, or if the resident chooses to pay more for the care provided at a facility which exceeds VA standards.

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1730 )

Code of Federal Regulations

[54 FR 20842, May 15, 1989, as amended at 54 FR 22754, May 26, 1989. Redesignated at 61 FR 21965, May 13, 1996, as amended at 61 FR 63720, Dec. 2, 1996; 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004; 74 FR 63308, Dec. 3, 2009; 76 FR 10248, Feb. 24, 2011]

CFR

17.63—Approval of community residential care facilities.

Code of Federal Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations