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North Carolina
A short summary of Assisted Living
North Carolina
What is it called?
· Assisted Living Residence
o Two types: multi-unit assisted housing with services and adult care home
o Will focus on adult care home
What services are provided?
· Facility provides
o 24-hour scheduled and unscheduled personal care services
o Occasional/incidental medical care
o Medication administration
o Hospice care (if statutory requirements are met)
o Supervision to residents with cognitive impairments
· With the participation of a licensed health care professional
o Bowel and bladder training to regain continence
o Medication administration through gastrostomy feeding tube
o Medication administration through injection
o Oxygen administration and monitoring
o Care of well-established tracheostomy
o Prescribed heat therapy
Who can be admitted?
· The following conditions can be accommodated in an adult care home with the participation of a licensed health professional
o Urinary catheter bag
o Chest physiotherapy or postural drainage
o Well-established colostomy or ileostomy
o Inhalation medicine by machine
o Oral suctioning
o Continuous positive air pressure devices
o Pressure sores up to and including Stage 2
o Swallowing problems
Who is inappropriate?
· Must be refused admission
o Ventilator dependency
o Need for continuous licensed nursing care
o Inability of facility to meet health needs
o Determination by state that needs cannot be met by the facility
· Can be evicted
o Same as above
o Certification by physician that placement is no longer appropriate
· Exceptions to disqualifying eviction conditions
o Resident may be retained if a physician certifies that the condition can be accommodated on a temporary basis
What training is required for direct care staff?
· Initial training
o 80 hours of specified training in basic nursing and personal care skills
· Continuing training
o Medication aides must complete at least six hours on medication administration
· Additional requirements
o At least one staff member who has completed CPR training must be present at all times
Is any public payment available?
· Yes, the Medicaid program may pay for assisted living services through a Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver
More Information
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Facility Services
(919) 855 – 3765
http://facility-services.state.nc.us/
North Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman
(919) 733 – 8395
www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/ombud.htm
10/12/07 North Carolina enforcement actions against assisted living facilities announced