(a)  The administrator shall be responsible for ensuring sufficient and qualified staff to provide a safe and healthy environment and to provide the services specified on each resident‘s service plan. The department shall establish requirements for staff qualifications and training for each level of license.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.4-15.8

  • Administrator: means any person who has responsibility for day to day administration or operation of an assisted living residence. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.4-2
  • Assisted living residence: means a publicly or privately operated residence that provides directly or indirectly by means of contracts or arrangements personal assistance and may include the delivery of limited health services, as defined under subsection (12), to meet the resident's changing needs and preferences, lodging, and meals to six (6) or more adults who are unrelated to the licensee or administrator, excluding however, any privately operated establishment or facility licensed pursuant to chapter 17 of this title, and those facilities licensed by or under the jurisdiction of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the department of children, youth and families, or any other state agency. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.4-2
  • Limited health services: means health services, as ordered by the resident's physician, provided by qualified licensed assisted living staff members with supervision as required in rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.4-2
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Resident: means an individual not requiring medical or nursing care as provided in a healthcare facility but who as a result of choice and/or physical or mental limitation requires personal assistance, lodging and meals and may require the administration of medication and/or limited health services. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.4-2

(b)  The requirements for dementia care units shall include staff training on dementia care issues and practices as follows:

(1)  All staff of dementia-level licensed residences that have direct contact with residents shall have four (4) hours of initial training on dementia-care issues and practices and two (2) hours of continued education annually thereafter.

(2)  Training on dementia care issues and practices provided and documented at any licensed assisted living residence or nursing facility or by an entity authorized to provide continuing education credits may be counted toward meeting these requirements. At least one qualified awake and on duty staff person shall be on the premises at all times.

(c)  The requirements for residences that provide limited health services shall include staff training on limited health services care issues and practice as follows:

(1)  All staff delivering direct service with residents for limited health services in assisted living residences shall have initial training on delivering limited health service care and practice of continued education as determined through rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health.

(2)  Training on limited health service issues and practices provided and documented at any assisted living residence or nursing facility or by an entity authorized to provide continuing education credits as determined through rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health.

(3)  Staff delivering limited health services shall be supervised in accordance with subdivision 23-17.4-2(11) and all provisions of this chapter, with the specialized knowledge, judgment and skills related to the delivery of limited health services twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week as determined through rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health.

History of Section.
P.L. 2002, ch. 157, § 3; P.L. 2002, ch. 158, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 541, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 550, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 294, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 379, § 1.