Assisted Living Service Plan Requirements | All assisted living facilities must conduct an assessment of each resident's needs and create an individual care plan prior to or within 60 days of admission. The plan will contain information about services to be delivered, health care practitioner information and desired outcomes, if applicable. Facilities with a Category B or C license endorsement must also conduct a resident health care assessment within 21 days of admission. Plans must be reviewed and updated annually, or whenever the resident's needs change significantly. |
Assisted Living Admissions Requirements | All prospective assisted living residents must undergo an assessment to determine their eligibility for care at the facility. In general, residents must require a certain level of help with their activities of daily living (ADLs), which can include mobility, eating, bathing and getting dressed. |
Assisted Living Scope of Care | Facilities are required to provide or make provisions for assistance with ADLs, help with mobility, transportation, personal care services, 24-hour supervision, assistance with self-administration of medication and help with arranging medical appointments. Depending on the facility's license, it may also provide medication administration and skilled nursing. |
Assisted Living Medicaid Policy | Montana's Blue Sky Waiver Program covers the cost of assisted living services for eligible individuals. The Blue Sky Waiver can only be used with licensed assisted living facilities throughout the state. |
Assisted Living Facility Requirements | No more than four residents may reside in a single bedroom in facilities licensed prior to 2004. Facilities that were licensed after 2004, or those that serve residents with severe cognitive impairment, are limited to no more than two residents per room. There must be one bathing facility for every 12 residents and one toilet room for every four residents. Apartment-style units aren't required. |
Medication Management Requirements | All residents of Category A facilities must be capable of self-administering their own medication. Staff can give some assistance, including medication reminders, removing medications from secure storage, guiding the resident's hand to take medication and assisting them in drinking fluid to swallow medication. Residents of Category B and C facilities must have medications administered by a licensed health care professional, such as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), certified nurse practitioner, physician's assistant or licensed physician. |
Staffing Requirements | Montana's assisted living facilities must employ a qualified person as administrator. The administrator is responsible for the daily operations of the facility and must ensure 24-hour supervision for residents. The administrator must ensure there is sufficient staff to meet the health, safety and well-being needs of residents at all times. Category B facilities are required to employ or contract with a registered nurse for nursing assessments, health monitoring and development of resident health care plans. |
Staff Training Requirements | New staff must receive training and orientation for their responsibilities and duties, which includes an overview of services provided at the facility, as well as the facility's procedures and policies manual. Annually, administrators must undergo at least 16 contact hours of continuing education relevant to their duties. All staff must be trained in basic first-aid procedures. |
Background Checks for Assisted Living | Facilities must have procedures for screening, hiring and assessing staff. A facility cannot employ any individual with adverse findings in the Nurse Aide Registry, including reports of neglect, abuse, resident mistreatment or theft of resident property. |
Requirements for Reporting Abuse | All staff members of assisted living facilities are considered mandated reporters who are required to report suspected or observed neglect, abuse and exploitation. Reports must be made to the Adult Protective Services hotline at (844) 277-9300. Reports can also be submitted online. |