Assisted Living Service Plan Requirements | Assisted living staff are required to create an individual service plan for each resident. Usually, this is accomplished when the resident moves into the facility. Facility staff, the resident, the resident's doctor, the resident's family or caregiver and other concerned parties create the care plan, which must be updated at least once a year |
Assisted Living Admission Requirements | Before a senior can move into an assisted living facility, staff must certify that they meet specific requirements for admission. Staff must certify that an individual treatment plan has been completed and submitted, that the senior's physician has agreed that assisted living is the right choice, that the senior has had a mental health screening, and that a person who can act as a contact in the case of emergency or incapacity has met with the staff. |
Assisted Living Scope of Care | Virginia licenses ALFs to house and provide measured amounts of nonmedical assistance. These communities must stay within this designated scope of care. At a minimum, ALF's must provide safe, clean and comfortable living conditions, regular meal service, assistance with ADLs and emergency assistance if the resident has a fall or other injury. |
Assisted Living Medicaid Policy | Some, but not all, ALFs in Virginia accept Medicaid as a form of payment for residents who qualify for benefits under PACE. Seniors who receive SSI/SSDI may use this to cover housing costs. Remember to check with your community if you plan to pay for assisted living using these benefits, and be sure to ask staff at the communities you're considering whether they can process PACE, Medicare, Medicaid and/or SSI/SSDI benefits as payment. |
Assisted Living Facility Requirements | Virginia ALFs must meet facility requirements that ensure accessibility and safety for residents and visitors. These requirements must meet or exceed the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code standards, which include things like non-slip common areas, central air, and pest control. |
Medication Management Regulations | ALF staff may be required to assist some residents with medication management. Therefore, all staff must be trained in the appropriate procedures and scope of care for assisted living in Virginia. Staff can assist seniors with largely self-administered medication. Staff may remind residents to take medication on time, help them apply topical medications and provide them with over-the-counter medications. |
Staffing Requirements | Virginia law requires at least two staff members to be awake and on duty at all times, one of whom should be trained in CPR. The larger the facility, the more staff required. In most cases, enough staff must be on hand to operate the facility without leaving any resident who needs immediate assistance in need. Excursions require multiple staff members. |
Staff Training Requirements | ALF administrators in Virginia who are not licensed must undergo at least 20 hours of training within 12 months of their hire. At least six hours of that training will be in memory care. Direct care staff must either have a certificate as a nurse's aide or successfully complete the approved 40-hour direct care staff training program provided by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Staff and administrators alike need annual recertification. |
Background checks for assisted living | All employees who work at a Virginia ALF must undergo a background check before hiring. Any individual with a felony or domestic violence conviction or offenses related to moral turpitude, such as sex crimes, is permanently barred from employment in a Virginia ALF. |
Requirements for Reporting Abuse | Any allegation of elder abuse, including physical, sexual or emotional, financial abuse or caregiver neglect, must be reported under Virginia state law. Managers of ALF's must notify the authorities about the alleged abuse, regardless of their opinions about the allegation's credibility or the evidence. Staff members must be trained to recognize and report abuse and neglect cases. |