10A N.C. Admin. Code 13K.1109

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 9, November 1, 2024

Section 13K .1109 - RESIDENT CARE AREAS

(a) A facility shall meet the following requirements for resident bedrooms:

(1) private bedroom with not less than 100 square feet of floor area or semi-private bedroom with not less than 80 square feet of floor area per bed shall be provided;

(2) infants and small children shall not share a bedroom with an adult resident unless requested by the resident and families;

(3) each bedroom shall be furnished with a bed, a mattress protected by waterproof material, a mattress pad, a pillow, and one chair per resident;

(4) each bedroom shall be provided with one closet or wardrobe per bed. Each closet or wardrobe shall have clothing storage space of not less than 48 cubic feet per bed with one-half of this space for hanging clothes;

(5) each bedroom shall:

(A) be located at or above grade level;

(B) have provisions to ensure visual privacy for treatment or visiting; and

(C) be equipped with a towel rack for each resident;

(6) each bedroom shall provide lighting for treatment and non-treatment needs, 50 foot-candles for treatment needs, and 35 foot-candles for non-treatment needs; and

(7) no resident bedroom shall be accessed through a bathroom, kitchen, or another bedroom.

(b) A facility shall meet the following requirements for bathrooms:

(1) bathrooms shall be directly accessible to each resident bedroom without going through the general corridors. One bathroom may serve up to four residents. The bathroom doorway shall be a minimum 32-inch clear opening;

(2) each bathroom shall be furnished with the following:

(A) a toilet with grab bars;

(B) a sink trimmed with valves that can be operated without hands. If the sink is equipped with blade handles, the blade handles shall not be less than four inches in length. If the sink faucet depends on the building electrical service for operation, the faucet must have an emergency power source or battery backup capability. If the faucet has battery operated sensors, the facility shall have a maintenance policy to keep extra rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries on premises for the faucets;

(C) a mirror;

(D) soap, paper towel dispensers, and waste paper receptacle with a removable impervious liner; and

(E) a tub or shower.

(c) Each facility shall provide:

(1) an area for charting;

(2) storage provisions for personal effects of staff;

(3) storage areas for supplies and resident care equipment;

(4) storage area(s) for housekeeping equipment and cleaning supplies;

(5) a medication preparation area with a counter, a sink trimmed with valves that can be operated without hands, locked medication storage, and a double locked narcotic storage area under visual control of staff. If the sink is equipped with blade handles, the blade handles shall not be less than four inches in length. If the sink faucet depends on the building electrical service for operation, the faucet must have an emergency power source or battery backup capability. If the faucet has battery operated sensors, the facility shall have a maintenance policy to keep extra rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries on premises for the faucets;

(6) a lockable refrigerator for drug storage only or a separate locked box in a facility refrigerator. The refrigerator must be capable of maintaining a temperature range of 36 degrees F (2 degrees C) to 46 degrees F (8 degrees C);

(7) a kitchen with:

(A) a refrigerator;

(B) a cooking appliance ventilated to the outside;

(C) a 42-inch minimum double-compartment sink and domestic dishwashing machine capable of sanitizing dishes with 160 degrees F water; and

(D) storage space for non-perishables;

(8) a separate dining area measuring not less than 20 square feet per resident bed;

(9) a recreational and social activities area with not less than 150 square feet of floor area exclusive of corridor traffic;

(10) a nurses' calling system shall be provided:

(A) in each resident bedroom for each resident bed. The call system activator shall be such that they can be activated with a single action and remain on until deactivated by staff at the point of origin. The call system activator shall be within reach of a resident lying on the bed. In rooms containing two or more call system activators, indicating lights shall be provided at each calling station;

(B) nurses' calling systems that provide two-way voice communication shall be equipped with an indicating light at each calling station that lights and remains lighted as long as the voice circuit is operating;

(C) a nurses' call emergency activator shall be provided at each residents' use toilet fixture, bath, and shower. The call system activator shall be accessible to a resident lying on the floor; and

(D) calls shall register with the floor staff and shall activate a visible signal in the corridor at the resident's door. In multi-corridor units, additional visible signals shall be installed at corridor intersections; and

(11) heating and air conditioning equipment that can maintain a temperature range between 68 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, even upon loss of utility power.

10A N.C. Admin. Code 13K .1109

Authority G.S. 131E-202;
Eff. June 1, 1991;
Amended Eff. February 1, 1995;
Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.

Authority G.S. 131E-202;
Eff. June 1, 1991;
Amended Eff. February 1, 1995.

Readopted by North Carolina Register Volume 36, Issue 09, November 1, 2021 effective 10/1/2021.