How many aides per resident are required in an assisted living facility?
The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) leaves the issue of staffing flexible so each individual facility may decide what is best for their residents and resident focused programs. Due to differences in specialty or types of care, which may range with the resident population, ALFA states the following:
"ALFA supports staffing requirements that allow assisted living communities to hire staff in sufficient numbers to adequately meet the needs and preferences of the resident population."
Most states housing regulations also do not dictate the staff-to-resident ratio, except in the cases of specialty units providing memory care. There are typically requirements for 24-hour staffing and additional criteria for education, experience and security background clearance for all staff members. You should consult your local Area Agency on Aging for details and state regulations that apply to you.
Actually, assisted living regulations are state specific as in some states, assisted living care falls under the nursing home care act which does have staffing regulations/requirements. Check with your state regulating agency for details.
