WSR 03-16-047

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Aging and Disability Services Administration)

[ Filed July 31, 2003, 8:12 a.m. , effective September 1, 2004 ]

     Date of Adoption: July 29, 2003.

     Purpose: The boarding home licensing rules (chapter 388-78A WAC) are being revised to make them more applicable to the residents currently living in boarding homes in order to improve the quality of care and services for them; to make the rules more consistent with current practices in boarding homes; and to focus the rule more on what occurs with residents. These rules place more emphasis on the boarding home assessing residents' needs, developing and implementing a negotiated service agreement, monitoring residents consistent with their service agreements, and providing a minimum level of services. These rules also expand the scope of services that are allowed in boarding homes. Upon the effective date of this order, all current sections of chapter 388-78A WAC will be repealed and be replaced with new rules in this chapter.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 388-78A-010 Definitions, 388-78A-020 Licensure -- Initial, renewal, day care approval respite care, modifications, 388-78A-030 Responsibilities and rights -- Licensee and department, 388-78A-040 Administrator, 388-78A-045 Criminal history, disclosure, and background inquiries, 388-78A-050 Staff, 388-78A-055 Policies and procedures, 388-78A-060 HIV/AIDS education and training, 388-78A-070 Construction, 388-78A-080 Communication system, 388-78A-090 Water supply, 388-78A-100 Sewage and liquid waste disposal, 388-78A-110 Garbage and refuse disposal, 388-78A-120 Lighting, 388-78A-130 Heating -- Temperature, 388-78A-140 Ventilation, 388-78A-150 Resident room -- Room furnishings -- Storage, 388-78A-160 Toilet rooms and bathrooms, 388-78A-170 Food and nutrition services, 388-78A-180 Day rooms, 388-78A-190 Laundry, 388-78A-200 Storage space, 388-78A-210 Stairs -- Ramps, 388-78A-220 Guardrails -- Handrails, 388-78A-230 Maintenance and housekeeping, 388-78A-240 Criteria for accepting and retaining residents, 388-78A-250 Resident rights, 388-78A-260 Resident services, 388-78A-265 Limited nursing services, 388-78A-268 Health care services -- Resident-arranged, 388-78A-280 Notification -- Change in resident's condition, 388-78A-290 Safety measures and quality assurance, 388-78A-300 Medication services, 388-78A-310 Resident register, 388-78A-320 Resident health record, 388-78A-330 Adult day care, 388-78A-335 Residents -- Dementia care, 388-78A-340 Exemptions, and 388-78A-990 Fees.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.20.090.

     Other Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-03-018 on January 7, 2003.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version:
WAC 388-78A-0020 Definitions.
• Deleted definition of "aged person" because it was replaced by "resident."
• Changed the definition of "boarding home" to be consistent with RCW 18.20.020 as amended by SSB 5579.
• Changed definition of "domiciliary care" to be consistent with definition in RCW 18.20.020 as amended by SSB 5579.
• Added definition of "general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident" to be consistent with definition in RCW 18.20.020 as amended by SSB 5579.
• Changed definitions of "harm" and "independent living unit" to improve clarity.
• Deleted definition of "intermittent nursing services" because it is not used in final rule, which simply addresses nursing services in general.
• Changed definition of "medication administration" as recommended and to be more consistent with RCW 69.41.010.
• Deleted definition of "noteworthy change" as recommended. The concept of this type of change is now reflected in WAC 388-78A-0350.
• Changed definition of "recurring problem" and "uncorrected problem" to address changes in licensees between initial citation and subsequent citations, and specified the time frames considered when addressing "recurring problems."
• Changed the definition of "serious problem" for added clarity.
• Changed the definition of "resident" to be consistent with definition in RCW 18.20.020 as amended by SSB 5579.
• Changed the definition of "respite care" to reflect use of the term "resident" versus "aged person."
WAC 388-78A-0030 Applicability.
• Added provisions to when a boarding home license is and is not required consistent with RCW 18.20.030 as amended by SSB 5579.
WAC 388-78A-0050 Resident characteristics.
• Subsection (1), changed in response to comments to include requirements for specialty training.
• Subsection (2), changed in response to comments to clarify when a registered nurse must specifically determine and document a resident's condition is stable and predictable.
WAC 388-78A-0070 Initial assessment.
• Subsection (1), changed in response to comments to clarify the assessment must result in an "adequate" understanding rather than a "comprehensive" understanding.
• Subsection (2), changed in response to comments to clarify, and to specify boarding homes may meet a resident's needs by arranging for services from outside resources.
• Subsection (3), changed the use of "care plan" to "service agreement."
WAC 388-78A-0080 Timing of initial assessment.
• Changed in response to comments to allow 5 calendar days to complete an assessment for emergency admissions.
WAC 388-78A-0090 Qualified assessor.
• Subsection (1)(c), changed in response to comments so a nurse acting consistent with chapter 18.79 RCW may complete an initial assessment.
• Subsection (1)(e), changed the effective date to 2004.
WAC 388-78A-0100 Assessment topics.
• Subsection (10), changed in response to comments to focus more on personal identity, rather than cultural or ethnicity, and to recognize some individuals may not be comfortable or willing to disclose personal information or preferences.
WAC 388-78A-0110 On-going assessments.
• Subsection (2), changed to clarify the extent of an on-going assessment, when it is necessary, and eliminated the term "noteworthy change," but referenced WAC 388-78A-0350 to reflect how on-going assessments are linked to monitoring residents' well being.
WAC 388-78A-0130 Service agreement planning.
• Changed in this section, and throughout the rule in response to comments, from the term "negotiated care plan" to "negotiated service agreement."
• Subsection (4)(a), deleted reference to noteworthy and significant changes and referred to WAC 388-78A-0350.
• Subsection (6)(a) and (f), edited for clarity.
• Subsection (7)(c), corrected in response to comments so documentation is made in the resident's record.
WAC 388-78A-0140 Negotiated service agreement contents.
• Subsection (1)(a), edited for clarity in response to comments.
• Subsection (1)(c), the term "intermittent nursing services" was deleted throughout the rule.
• Subsection (2)(a) and (b), deleted since they implied the boarding home would need to supervise the provision of services by outside resources, contrary to SSB 5579.
• Subsection (8), added in response to comments to include emphasis on not permitting boarding homes to ask or require residents to sign waivers of rights.
WAC 388-78A-0150 Signing negotiated service agreement.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
WAC 388-78A-0160 Basic boarding home services.
• Subsection (1), changed to reflect requirements of SSB 5579.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Reorganized, edited for clarity, and separated assistance with activities of daily living from other basic services to reflect requirements of SSB 5579.
• Added statutory reference to RCW 69.41.010 for self-administration of medication.
• Clarified in response to comments that services may be provided on both a scheduled and nonscheduled basis.
• Clarified disclosure requirement in response to comments by referencing WAC 388-78A-0690.
WAC 388-78A-0170 Activities.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
WAC 388-78A-0180 Medication services.
• Subsection (1)(a) and (b), edited in response to comments, to clarify.
WAC 388-78A-0200 Medication refusal .
• Edited in response to comments, to clarify, and to allow for physicians' directions on how to respond to medication refusals.
WAC 388-78A-0210 Nonavailability of medications.
• Edited in response to comments to clarify and require notification within a reasonable time.
WAC 388-78A-0230 Storing, securing, and accounting for medications.
• Subsection (3), edited in response to comments to clarify what drugs must be inventoried.
WAC 388-78A-0250 Medication organizers.
• Subsection (1)(a), changed in response to comments so a resident must understand the use of a medication instead of requiring the resident to be "fully knowledgeable" of the medication before a nurse may fill the resident's medication organizer.
• Subsection (3), edited to clarify that residents are allowed to receive other medication assistance or administration and still be able to use a medication organizer for those medications they could self-administer or direct others to administer.
WAC 388-78A-0270 Food and nutrition services.
• Subsection (1)(c)(i), changed in response to comments to permit menus to be delivered to residents' rooms instead of posting the menus.
• Subsection (1)(c)(vi), changed in response to comments so a three-week menu cycle would not be required for breakfasts when there were a variety of choices.
• Subsection (1)(f), edited to clarify where the boarding home must record alternate choices in entrees.
• Subsection (2)(a)(iii), edited to clarify the diet manual must be reviewed and updated as necessary.
• Subsection (3), added in response to comments to clarify boarding homes may provide special diets at a resident's request and consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement.
• Subsection (4)(b)(i) and (ii), changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsection (4)(b)(i)(B) and (4)(b)(ii)(C), changed so dishwashing operations and temperatures reflect current standards.
WAC 388-78A-0280 Need to provide nursing services.
• Clarified in response to comments that providing nursing services is an optional service for boarding homes.
• Subsection (1), clarified that residents who need nursing services must receive the required services or be discharged from the boarding home.
• Subsection (2), deleted the requirement for a registered nurse to coordinate resident-arranged nursing care.
WAC 388-78A-0290 Tube feeding.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement" and deleted "intermittent" from nursing services.
WAC 388-78A-0300 Supervision of nursing services.
• Deleted "intermittent" from nursing services.
WAC 388-78A-0310 Responsibilities of nursing supervisor.
• Clarified the supervising nurse in the boarding home is only required to supervise nursing services provided by the boarding home.
• Subsection (3)(b), changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Subsection (3)(d), deleted the requirement for a registered nurse to coordinate outside health care.
WAC 388-78A-0320 Resident-arranged services.
• Subsection (1), edited to clarify the boarding home must allow resident-arranged services from health care practitioners.
• Subsection (1)(b), edited to emphasize residents have a right to arrange their own health care, by adding a reference to chapter 70.129 RCW.
• Subsection (3), clarified a registered nurse does not need to coordinate a resident's health care with boarding home services, and consistent with SSB 5579, the boarding home is not required to supervise resident-arranged services.
WAC 388-78A-0330 Coordination of health care services.
• Subsection (1), clarified consistent with SSB 5579 that the boarding home must coordinate a resident's external health care according to the resident's negotiated service agreement.
• Subsection (2)(c), deleted because it is not different from subsection (2) in substance.
• Subsection (6)(c), changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Subsection (7), changed to specify required actions.
WAC 388-78A-0340 Implementation of negotiated service agreement.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
WAC 388-78A-0350 Monitoring residents' well-being.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Edited to remove the term "noteworthy changes," and more clearly describe when changes require an assessment beyond an initial evaluation and when changes need to be documented.
WAC 388-78A-0360 Adult day care.
• Subsection (2)(a), deleted required specific day care services since day care is an optional service.
• Subsection (2)(b) and (c), edited for consistency in format.
• Subsection (2)(e), deleted references to the types of furniture that were required.
• Subsection (2)(i), deleted in response to comments received specific record-keeping requirements.
WAC 388-78A-0370 Dementia care.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
WAC 388-78A-0380 Restricted egress.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Subsections (2) and (4), edited for clarity and consistency in format.
• Subsections (6) and (7), changed the effective date to 2004.
WAC 388-78A-0410 Content of resident records.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Subsection (7), clarified that "orders" included directions for what to do when a resident refused prescribed treatments, medications and diets.
• Subsection (8), clarified in response to comments received that the boarding home does not need to document nursing services provided by outside resources.
• Subsection (9)(d), deleted use of term "noteworthy changes."
WAC 388-78A-0430 Record retention.
• Subsection (2), clarified a resident's inactive record must remain on the boarding home premises as long as the resident remains in the boarding home.
• Subsections (3) and (4), clarified a distinction between "closed records" and "inactive records," and how closed records must be handled .
WAC 388-78A-0440 Resident review of records.
• Subsection (2), added in response to comments to specify requirements regarding photocopying residents' records.
WAC 388-78A-0460 Staff.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Subsection (2)(c) and (e), clarified in response to comments received, issued related to appropriate qualifications and credentials.
• Subsection (2)(i), clarified that references are for "resident-care staff persons."
• Subsection (3)(b), deleted in response to comments received, "...to the satisfaction of the department."
WAC 388-78A-0480 TB tests.
• Subsection (1)(a), clarified in response to comments received that the TB test must be initiated within three days of hiring.
WAC 388-78A-0510 Specialized training for dementia.
• Subsection (2), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-0520 Administrator qualifications.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Changed American Association of Housing and Services for the Aging to American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
• Clarified that department-recognized national accreditation health or personal care organizations may endorse administrator training programs, as well as directly provide them.
WAC 388-78A-0560 Administrator responsibilities.
• Subsection (5)(a), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-0580 Use of home health/home care.
• Edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-0605 Pets.
• Subsection (1), added requirement for boarding homes to disclose their policies regarding pets to potential and current residents.
• Subsection (2)(c)(ii), deleted because residents must be advised of the boarding home's policies on pets.
WAC 388-78A-0635 Reporting fires and incidents.
• Subsection (1), edited for clarity in response to comments received about certain types of fires in boarding homes.
• Subsection (2), edited for clarity in response to comments received.
WAC 388-78A-0650 Services by resident for boarding home.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
WAC 388-78A-0670 Resident use of electronic monitoring.
• Subsection (2)(d), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-0680 Safety measures and disaster preparedness.
• Changed term to "negotiated service agreement."
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsection (1), changed to be consistent with chapter 18.20 RCW as amended by SSB 5579.
• Subsection (2)(c)(iii), added to protect residents during the course of an investigation.
WAC 388-78A-0690 Disclosure of services.
• Subsection (3), edited to clarify that all boarding homes must notify all residents of their rights under applicable state and federal laws regarding all health care decision-making.
WAC 388-78A-0700 Timing of disclosure.
• Subsection (2)(c), edited for clarity in response to comments received.
WAC 388-78A-0760 Licensee's responsibilities.
• Subsection (2)(b)(i), edited to clarify that posting a boarding home license should include posting any conditions on the license.
• Subsection (2)(b)(ii)(B), deleted in response to comments received, the requirement to notify residents of the local legal services program.
WAC 388-78A-0770 Change in licensee.
• Subsection (2)(a), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-0800 Building requirements.
• Retitled section.
• New subsections added in response to comments received to allow for certain exemptions to the licensing rules.
WAC 388-78A-0830 Required reviews of building plans.
• Subsection (1)(a) and (b), edited in response to comments received, for clarification and accuracy.
• Subsection (2)(e), edited so rule remains accurate if building code changes.
WAC 388-78A-0860 Changing use of rooms.
• Subsection (1)(c), added in response to comments received to require boarding homes to provide additional documentation requested by construction review services.
WAC 388-78A-0900 Area for nursing supplies and equipment.
• Deleted "intermittent" from nursing services.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
WAC 388-78A-0910 Communication system.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
WAC 388-78A-0940 Sewage and liquid waste disposal.
• Subsections (2) and (3), edited to add clarifying references to relevant WAC.
WAC 388-78A-0960 Lighting.
• Subsection (1), edited for clarity.
• Subsection (2), added in response to comments received specifications for reading room lighting.
WAC 388-78A-0970 Heating-cooling -- Temperature.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsection (1), changed in response to comments received regarding current standard of 70 degrees.
WAC 388-78A-0990 Resident room—Room furnishings-storage.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsection (1)(j), edited in response to comments received to clarify each resident should have his/her own storage area.
WAC 388-78A-1010 Toilet rooms and bathrooms.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsections (5) and (6), added "...or fraction thereof" in response to comments received.
• Subsection (8)(c), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-1020 Laundry.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsection (3), edited in response to comments received, to clarify washing machines must have a continuous supply of hot water.
WAC 388-78A-1070 Maintenance and housekeeping.
• Changed the effective date to 2004.
• Subsection (1)(e)(i), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-1120 Responsibilities during inspections.
• Subsection (1)(a), edited for clarity by deleting reference to financial records and adding reference to statutory provisions.
• Subsection (1)(b)(iv), edited to clarify that schedules only need to be retained for six months.
WAC 388-78A-1130 Communication during inspections.
• Subsection (2)(b) and (c), edited for clarity in response to comments received regarding when staff persons may be present during interviews and investigations.
WAC 388-78A-1160 Authorized enforcement remedies.
• Reorganized and edited for clarity, including statutory authority for civil fines up to $3000 ((2)).
• Subsection (1)(f), added enforcement remedy of imposing a limited stop placement per SSB 5579.
WAC 388-78A-1170 Statutory circumstances resulting in discretionary enforcement remedies.
• Retitled section.
• Subsection (1)(a)(iv), deleted the word "application."
• Subsection (1)(g), clarified in response to comments received, a person would have to knowingly permit illegal acts before enforcement remedies would be imposed for this reason.
• Subsection (3), added reference to WAC 388-78A-1200 for other circumstances resulting in discretionary enforcement remedies.
WAC 388-78A-1180 Circumstances resulting in required enforcement remedies.
• Retitled section and edited for clarity.
• Added statutory references to RCW 18.20.185 and [18.20].190.
• Subsection (2), added another circumstance for which the statute requires an enforcement remedy.
WAC 388-78A-1190 Statutorily required enforcement remedies: Denial, suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal of license.
• Retitled section.
• Subsection (1)(e) and (f), deleted from rule in response to comments received, but provisions remain in RCW 18.20.200 and [18.20].210 for licensing actions for failure to repay student loans and for failure to pay child support or violating visitation orders. Additionally, the relationship between the person involved, and the licensed entity, is not clear in statute.
WAC 388-78A-1200 Other circumstances resulting in discretionary enforcement remedies.
• Retitled section and edited for clarity.
• Subsection (1)(c), included civil penalties per RCW 18.20.190 (2)(c).
• Subsection (2), imposition of limited stop-placement was added per SSB 5579.
• Subsections (2), (3), and (4), clarified less serious enforcement remedies could also be imposed for more serious problems.
• Subsection (4)(f), added another circumstance for which license revocation could be imposed .
WAC 388-78A-1210 Informal dispute resolution.
• Subsections (1) and (2), deleted to be consistent with chapter 18.20 RCW as amended by SSB 5579.
WAC 388-78A-1220 Appeal rights.
• Subsection (1), edited for clarity.
WAC 388-78A-1230 Fees.
• Subsection (2)(a) and (b), edited for clarity.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 125, Amended 0, Repealed 39.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 125, Amended 0, Repealed 39.
     Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2004.

July 29, 2003

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

3181.7
Chapter 388-78A WAC

BOARDING HOME LICENSING RULES

GENERAL
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0010   Purpose.   This chapter is written to implement chapter 18.20 RCW, to promote the safety and well being of boarding home residents, to specify standards for boarding home operators, and to further establish requirements for the operation of boarding homes.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0020   Definitions.   "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person with a duty of care for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable person without the means or ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter, or health care.

     "Abuse" means the willful action or inaction that inflicts injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment on a resident. In instances of abuse of a resident who is unable to express or demonstrate physical harm, pain, or mental anguish, the abuse is presumed to cause physical harm, pain, or mental anguish. Abuse includes sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, and exploitation of a resident, which have the following meanings:

     (1) "Mental abuse" means any willful action or inaction of mental or verbal abuse. Mental abuse includes, but is not limited to, coercion, harassment, inappropriately isolating a resident from family, friends, or regular activity, and verbal assault that includes ridiculing, intimidating, yelling, or swearing.

     (2) "Physical abuse" means the willful action of inflicting bodily injury or physical mistreatment. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, striking with or without an object, slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, prodding, or the use of chemical restraints or physical restraints.

     (3) "Sexual abuse" means any form of nonconsensual sexual contact, including but not limited to unwanted or inappropriate touching, rape, sodomy, sexual coercion, sexually explicit photographing, and sexual harassment. Sexual abuse includes any sexual contact between a staff person and a resident, whether or not it is consensual.

     (4) "Exploitation" means an act of forcing, compelling, or exerting undue influence over a resident causing the resident to act in a way that is inconsistent with relevant past behavior, or causing the resident to perform services for the benefit of another.

     (5) "Financial exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of the property, income, resources, or trust funds of the resident by any person for any person's profit or advantage.

     "Activities of daily living" means those tasks related to basic personal care such as bathing; toilet use, including perineal care; dressing; personal hygiene, including grooming; locomotion, including transferring; and eating.

     "Adult day care" means care and services provided to individuals on the boarding home premises for a period of less than twenty-four continuous hours and does not involve an over-night stay.

     "Ambulatory" means capable of walking or traversing a normal path to safety without the physical assistance of another individual:

     (1) "Nonambulatory" means unable to walk or traverse a normal path to safety without the physical assistance of another individual;

     (2) "Semi-ambulatory" means physically and mentally capable of traversing a normal path to safety with the use of mobility aids, but unable to ascend or descend stairs without the physical assistance of another individual.

     "Applicant" means the person, as defined in this section, that has submitted, or is in the process of submitting, an application for a boarding home license.

     "Bathing fixture" means a bathtub, shower or sit-down shower.

     "Bathroom" means a room containing at least one bathing fixture.

     "Board" means, in the definition of boarding home, the provision of meal service and lodging.

     "Boarding home" means any home or other institution, however named, which is advertised, announced, or maintained for the express or implied purpose of providing board and domiciliary care to seven or more residents after July 1, 2002. However, a boarding home that is licensed to provide board and domiciliary care to three to six residents on July 1, 2000, may maintain its boarding home license as long as it is continually licensed as a boarding home. "Boarding home" does not include facilities certified as group training homes pursuant to RCW 71A.22.040, nor any home, institution or section thereof which is otherwise licensed and regulated under the provisions of state law providing specifically for the licensing and regulation of such home, institution or section thereof. Nor shall it include any independent senior housing, independent living units in continuing care retirement communities, or other similar living situations including those subsidized by the department of Housing and Urban Development.

     "Building code" means the building codes and standards adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council.

     "Construction review services" means the office of construction review services within the Washington state department of health.

     "Continuing care contract" means, as stated in RCW 70.38.025, a contract providing a person, for the duration of that person's life or for a term in excess of one year, shelter along with nursing, medical, health-related, or personal care services, which is conditioned upon the transfer of property, the payment of an entrance fee to the provider of such services, or the payment of periodic charges for the care and services involved. A continuing care contract is not excluded from this definition because the contract is mutually terminable or because shelter and services are not provided at the same location.

     "Continuing care retirement community" means, as stated in RCW 70.38.025, an entity which provides shelter and services under continuing care contracts with its members and which sponsors or includes a health care facility or a health service.

     "Contractor" means an agency or person who contracts with a licensee to provide resident care, services or equipment.

     "Department" means the Washington state department of social and health services.

     "Dietitian" means an individual certified under chapter 18.138 RCW.

     "Document" means to record, with signature, title, date and time:

     (1) Information about medication administration, medication assistance or disposal, a nursing care procedure, accident, occurrence or change in resident condition that may impact the care or needs of a resident; and

     (2) Processes, events or activities that are required by law, rule or policy.

     "Domiciliary care":

     (1) Means:

     (a) Assistance with activities of daily living provided by the boarding home either directly or indirectly by contract; or

     (b) Assuming general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident; or

     (c) Intermittent nursing services, if provided by the boarding home.

     (2) Does not include general observation or preadmission assessment for the purposes of transitioning to a licensed care setting.

     "Enforcement remedy" means one or more of the department's responses to a boarding home's noncompliance with chapter 18.20 RCW and this chapter, authorized by RCW 18.20.190.

     "Exploitation" - see definition of "abuse."

     "Food service worker" means according to chapter 246-217 WAC an individual who works (or intends to work) with or without pay in a food service establishment and handles unwrapped or unpackaged food or who may contribute to the transmission of infectious diseases through the nature of his/her contact with food products and/or equipment and facilities. This does not include persons who simply assist residents with meals.

     "General responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident" does not include:

     (1) Emergency assistance provided on an intermittent or nonroutine basis to any nonresident individual; or

     (2) Services customarily provided under landlord tenant agreements governed by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, chapter 59.18 RCW. Such services do not include care or supervision.

     "Harm" means a physical or mental or emotional injury or damage to a resident including those resulting from neglect or violations of a resident's rights.

     "Infectious" means capable of causing infection or disease by entrance of organisms into the body, which grow and multiply there, including but not limited to bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi.

     "Independent living unit" means an apartment, condominium or other self-sufficient dwelling unit occupied by a nonresident individual or individuals not receiving domiciliary care directly, or indirectly by contract, from the boarding home.

     "Independent senior housing" means an independent living unit occupied by an individual or individuals sixty or more years of age.

     "Infirmity" means a disability that materially limits normal activity without requiring inpatient medical or nursing care. An infirmity may be based on conditions, including but not limited to physical handicap, mental illness, developmental disability, mental confusion, disability or disturbance.

     "Licensee" means the person, as defined in this chapter, to whom the department issues the boarding home license.

     "Licensed resident bed capacity" means the resident occupancy level requested by the licensee and approved by the department. All residents receiving domiciliary care and their roommates count towards the licensed resident bed capacity. Adult day care clients do not count towards the licensed resident bed capacity.

     "Manager" means the person, as defined in this chapter, providing services under a management agreement.

     "Management agreement" means a written, executed agreement between the licensee and the manager regarding the provision of certain services in a boarding home.

     "Maximum facility capacity" means the maximum number of individuals that the boarding home may serve at any one time, as determined by the department.

     (1) The maximum facility capacity includes all residents and respite care residents and adult day care clients.

     (2) The maximum facility capacity is equal to the lesser of:

     (a) The sum of the number of approved bed spaces for all resident rooms; or

     (b) Twice the seating capacity of the dining area(s) consistent with WAC 388-78A-0270; or

     (c) The number of residents permitted by calculating the ratios of toilets, sinks, and bathing fixtures to residents consistent with WAC 388-78A-1010; or

     (d) For boarding homes licensed on or before December 31, 1988, the total day room area in square feet divided by ten square feet, consistent with WAC 388-78A-1030; or

     (e) For boarding homes licensed after December 31, 1988, the total day room area in square feet divided by twenty square feet, consistent with WAC 388-78A-1030.

     "Medication administration" means the direct application of a prescribed medication whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means, to the body of the resident by a person legally authorized to do so.

     "Medication assistance" means assistance with self-administration of medication rendered by a nonpractitioner to a resident of a boarding home in accordance with chapter 246-888 WAC.

     "Medication organizer" means a container with separate compartments for storing oral medications organized in daily doses.

     "Neglect" means:

     (1) A pattern of conduct or inaction resulting in the failure to provide the goods and services that maintain physical or mental health of a resident, or that fails to avoid or prevent physical or mental harm or pain to a resident; or

     (2) An act or omission that demonstrates a serious disregard of consequences of such a magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to the resident's health, welfare, or safety.

     "Nonpractitioner" means any individual who is not a practitioner as defined in WAC 388-78A-0020 and chapter 69.41 RCW.

     "Nurse" means an individual currently licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW as either a:

     (1) "Licensed practical nurse" (LPN); or

     (2) "Registered nurse" (RN).

     "Over-the-counter (OTC) medication" means any medication that may be legally purchased without a prescriptive order, including but not limited to vitamin, mineral, or herbal preparations.

     "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association.

     "Physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.

     "Practitioner" includes a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, podiatric physician, pharmacist, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, dentist, and physician assistant. Refer to chapter 69.41 RCW for a complete listing of practitioners.

     "Prescribed medication," means any medication (legend drug, controlled substance, and over-the-counter) that is prescribed by an authorized practitioner.

     "Prescriber" means a health care practitioner authorized by Washington state law to prescribe drugs.

     "Problem" means a violation of any WAC or RCW applicable to the operation of a boarding home:

     (1) "Recurring problem" means that the department has cited the boarding home for a violation of WAC or RCW and the circumstances of (a) or (b) of this subsection are present:

     (a) The department previously imposed an enforcement remedy for a violation of the same section of WAC or RCW for substantially the same problem following any type of inspection within the preceding thirty-six months; or

     (b) The department previously cited a violation under the same section of WAC or RCW for substantially the same problem following any type of inspection on two occasions within the preceding thirty-six months.

     (c) When there is a change in licensees between the first and the second or third citations, the new licensee must accept, and the department will consider, the prior licensee's compliance and enforcement record as part of the new licensee's compliance record at that boarding home if any person affiliated with the new licensee was affiliated with the prior licensee at the same boarding home. A person is considered affiliated with the licensee if the person is an applicant for the boarding home license, or is listed on the license application as a partner, officer, director, or majority owner of the applying entity.

     (2) "Serious problem" means:

     (a) There has been a violation of a WAC or RCW, and

     (b) Significant harm has actually occurred to a resident, or

     (c) It is likely that significant harm or death will occur to a resident.

     (3) "Uncorrected problem" means the department has cited a violation of WAC or RCW following any type of inspection and the violation remains uncorrected at the time the department makes a subsequent inspection for the specific purpose of verifying whether such violation has been corrected. When a change in licensees occurs, the new licensee is responsible for correcting any remaining violations that may exist, including complying with any plan of correction in effect immediately prior to the change in licensees.

     "Prospective resident" means an individual who demonstrates an interest, intends, or applies to move into a boarding home but has not signed an admission agreement or moved in.

     "RCW" means Revised Code of Washington.

     "Records" means:

     (1) "Active records" means the current, relevant documentation regarding residents necessary to provide care and services to residents; or

     (2) "Inactive records" means historical documentation regarding the provision of care and services to residents that is no longer relevant to the current delivery of services and has been thinned from the active record.

     "Resident" means:

     (1) An individual who:

     (a) Lives in a boarding home, including those receiving respite care;

     (b) Is not related by blood or marriage to the operator of the boarding home; and

     (c) By reason of age or disability, receives domiciliary care provided either directly, or indirectly by contract, by the boarding home.

     (2) The roommates of individuals who require domiciliary care.

     "Resident-care staff person" means any boarding home employee, temporary employee, volunteer, or contractor who provides hands-on personal care or nursing care to a resident, including but not limited to cuing, reminding, or supervision of a resident on behalf of a boarding home, except "resident-care staff person" does not include volunteers who are supervised by an employee, temporary employee or contractor who is on the premises and is quickly and easily available to the volunteer while the volunteer is performing volunteer activities.

     "Resident's representative" means:

     (1) An individual legally appointed, or designated by the resident in writing, to act in the resident's behalf; or

     (2) If the resident is not competent, an individual authorized to provide informed consent on behalf of the resident consistent with RCW 7.70.065.

     "Respite care" means short-term care for any period in excess of twenty-four continuous hours for a resident to temporarily relieve the family or other caregiver of providing that care.

     "Restraint" means any method or device used to prevent or limit free body movement, including but not limited to:

     (1) Confinement, unless agreed to as provided in WAC 388-78A-0380;

     (2) "Chemical restraint" means a psychopharmacologic drug that is used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms; and

     (3) "Physical restraint" means a manual method, obstacle, or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to the resident's body that restricts freedom of movement or access to his or her body, is used for discipline or convenience, and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.

     "Room" means a space set apart by floor to ceiling partitions on all sides with all openings provided with doors or windows.

     (1) "Sleeping room" means a room where a resident is customarily expected to sleep and contains a resident's bed.

     (2) "Resident living room" means the common space in a resident unit that is not a sleeping room, bathroom or closet.

     "Significant change" means a change in a resident's health status or physical, emotional or mental functioning that requires the intervention of a physician, a physician assistant as defined in WAC 246-918-005, or an advanced registered nurse practitioner as defined in WAC 246-840-299.

     "Special needs" means a developmental disability, mental illness, or dementia.

     "Stable and predictable condition" means the resident's clinical and behavioral status is known through initial and on-going assessments to be nonfluctuating and consistent, and does not require the frequent presence and frequent evaluation of a registered nurse. As long as the boarding home has the capacity to meet the resident's identified needs, a resident in a stable and predictable condition also includes:

     (1) A terminally ill resident, whose deteriorating condition is predictable; and

     (2) A resident with an acute, time-limited illness of brief duration.

     "Staff person" means any boarding home employee, temporary employee, volunteer, or contractor, whether employed or retained by the licensee or any management company.

     "Toilet" means a disposal apparatus fitted with a seat and flushing device used for urination and defecation.

     "Volunteer" means an individual who regularly provides planned and organized services within the boarding home without reimbursement, but does not mean an individual who visits residents socially or provides occasional entertainment.

     "Vulnerable adult" means "vulnerable adult" as defined in chapter 74.34 RCW, except that for the purposes of requesting and receiving background checks pursuant to RCW 43.43.832, it shall also include adults of any age who lack the functional, mental, or physical ability to care for themselves.

     "WAC" means Washington Administrative Code.

     "WISHA" means the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, chapter 49.17 RCW administered by the Washington state department of labor and industries.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0030   Applicability.   (1) A person must have a boarding home license issued by the department under chapter 18.20 RCW and this chapter if the person advertises as, or operates, or maintains a facility within Washington state that provides board and domiciliary care as defined in this chapter, except as otherwise exempted by RCW 18.20.170 and in subsection (2) of this section.

     (2) A boarding home license is not required:

     (a) For only providing housing or services that are customarily provided under landlord tenant agreements governed by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, chapter 59.18 RCW; or

     (b) For only providing emergency assistance when that emergency assistance is not provided on a frequent or routine basis to any one nonresident individual and the nonresident individual resides in:

     (i) Independent senior housing;

     (ii) An independent living unit in a continuing care retirement community;

     (iii) An independent living unit having common ownership with a licensed boarding home; or

     (iv) Other similar living situations including those subsidized by the department of housing and urban development.

     (c) When housing nonresident individuals who, without ongoing assistance from the boarding home, initiate and arrange for services provided by persons other than the boarding home or the boarding home's contractor.

     (3) This section does not prohibit a boarding home from furnishing written information concerning available community resources to nonresident individuals or the individual's family members or legal representatives. The boarding home may not require the use of any particular service provider.

     (4) For the purposes of this section, residents receiving domiciliary care, provided directly or indirectly by contract by the boarding home, are not considered nonresident individuals.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0040   Other requirements.   (1) The boarding home must comply with all other applicable federal, state, county and municipal statutes, rules, codes and ordinances, including without limitations those that prohibit discrimination.

     (2) The boarding home must have its building approved by the Washington State Fire Marshal, Fire Protection Bureau in order to be licensed.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0050   Resident characteristics.   The boarding home may accept and retain an individual as a resident in a boarding home only if:

     (1) The boarding home can meet the individual's needs, including providing any specialized training to resident-care staff persons that may be required according to WAC 388-78A-0490 through 388-78A-0510;

     (2) The individual's health care condition is stable and predictable, as determined jointly by the boarding home and the resident or the resident's representative if appropriate.

     (a) When the resident requires the services of a licensed nurse on the boarding home premises, the registered nurse responsible for assessing the resident's nursing needs must specifically assess, determine and document in the resident's record if the resident's health care condition is stable and predictable.

     (b) If the resident does not require the services of a licensed nurse on the boarding home premises, it is assumed the resident's condition is stable and predicable and a registered nurse does not need to assess and determine that the resident's health care condition is stable and predictable.

     (3) The individual is ambulatory, unless the boarding home is approved by the Washington State Director of Fire Protection to care for semi-ambulatory or nonambulatory residents; and

     (4) The individual meets the acceptance criteria the boarding home described in the boarding home's disclosure information.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0060   Individuals in buildings prior to licensing.   A person must ensure all of the following conditions are present if any individual moves into a planned boarding home prior to the department issuing a boarding home license:

     (1) The prospective licensee does not represent or advertise the building as a licensed boarding home or other licensed facility;

     (2) The prospective licensee does not provide any assistance with activities of daily living to the individuals living in the building whether directly or through a contractor;

     (3) The prospective licensee does not provide any nursing services or other health care to individuals living in the building;

     (4) The prospective licensee does not assume any responsibility for the safety or well-being of the individuals in the boarding home, other than those associated with customary landlord-tenant relations; and

     (5) All of the individuals living in the building are either totally independent, or are able to make arrangements with community resources to meet their service needs without the assistance of the prospective licensee.

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ASSESSMENT
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0070   Initial assessment.   The boarding home must obtain sufficient information to be able to initially assess each prospective resident and enable staff persons:

     (1) To gain an adequate understanding of the individual's:

     (a) Needs,

     (b) Capabilities, and

     (c) Preferences.

     (2) To determine if the boarding home has the necessary resources or could arrange for them, including staff, facilities, and equipment to provide the required care and services; and

     (3) To develop a preliminary service agreement that adequately addresses the individual's needs, capabilities, and preferences.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0080   Timing of initial assessment.   Except in cases of genuine emergency, the boarding home must ensure an initial assessment of the resident is completed before each prospective resident moves into the boarding home. The boarding home must ensure the initial assessment is completed within five calendar days of the resident moving into the boarding home when the resident moves in under emergency conditions.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0090   Qualified assessor.   (1) The boarding home must ensure the person responsible for completing an initial assessment of a prospective resident:

     (a) Has a master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or an allied field and two years social service experience working with adults who have functional or cognitive disabilities; or

     (b) Has a bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or an allied field and three years social service experience working with adults who have functional or cognitive disabilities; or

     (c) Has a valid Washington state license to practice nursing consistent with chapter 18.79 RCW; or

     (d) Is a physician with a valid state license to practice medicine; or

     (e) Has three years of successful experience in a licensed boarding home, acquired prior to September 1, 2004, assessing prospective boarding home residents.

     (2) The boarding home must ensure a registered nurse is responsible for the assessment of the nursing needs of each prospective resident who requires the services of a nurse while on the boarding home premises.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0100   Assessment topics.   The boarding home must obtain sufficient information to be able to assess the capabilities, needs and preferences for each prospective resident in the following areas, consistent with chapter 70.129 RCW:

     (1) Individual's recent medical history, including, but not limited to:

     (a) Health professional's diagnosis (unless the resident objects for religious reasons);

     (b) Chronic, current, and potential skin conditions;

     (c) Known allergies to foods, medications, or other considerations for providing care or services.

     (2) Currently necessary and contraindicated medications and treatments for the individual, including:

     (a) What prescribed medications, and what over-the-counter medications commonly taken by the individual, the individual is able to independently self-administer, or safely and accurately direct others to administer to him/her;

     (b) What prescribed medications, and what over-the-counter medications commonly taken by the individual, the individual is able to self-administer when he/she has the assistance of a resident-care staff person; and

     (c) What prescribed medications, and what over-the-counter medications commonly taken by the individual, the individual is not able to self-administer, and needs to have administered to him or her.

     (3) The individual's nursing needs when the individual requires the services of a nurse on the boarding home premises. The boarding home must ensure a registered nurse is responsible for the nursing assessment of each current and prospective resident who requires a nursing assessment;

     (4) Individual's sensory abilities, including:

     (a) Vision, and

     (b) Hearing.

     (5) Individual's communication abilities, including:

     (a) Modes of expression,

     (b) Ability to make self understood, and

     (c) Ability to understand others.

     (6) Significant known behaviors or symptoms of the individual causing concern or requiring special care, including:

     (a) History of substance abuse;

     (b) History of harming self, others, or property or other conditions that may require behavioral intervention strategies;

     (c) Individual's ability to leave the boarding home unsupervised; and

     (d) Other safety considerations that may pose a danger to the individual or others, such as use of medical devices or the individual's ability to smoke unsupervised, if smoking is permitted in the boarding home.

     (7) Individual's special needs, by evaluating available information, or selecting and using an appropriate tool, to determine the presence of symptoms consistent with, and implications for care and services of:

     (a) Mental illness, or needs for psychological or mental health services, except where protected by confidentiality laws;

     (b) Developmental disability;

     (c) Dementia, using the DSHS 13-692; or

     (d) Other conditions affecting cognition, such as traumatic brain injury.

     (8) Individual's level of personal care needs, including:

     (a) Ability to perform activities of daily living;

     (b) Medication management ability, including:

     (i) The individual's ability to obtain and appropriately use over-the-counter medications; and

     (ii) How the individual will obtain prescribed medications for use in the boarding home.

     (9) Individual's activities, typical daily routines, habits and service preferences;

     (10) Individual's personal identity and lifestyle, to the extent the individual is willing to share the information, and the manner in which they are expressed, including preferences regarding food, community contacts, hobbies, spiritual preferences, or other sources of pleasure and comfort; and

     (11) Who has decision making authority for the individual, including:

     (a) The presence of any advance directive, or other legal document that will establish a substitute decision maker in the future;

     (b) The presence of any legal document that establishes a current substitute decision maker; and

     (c) The scope of decision-making authority of any substitute decision maker.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0110   On-going assessments.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Complete a full re-assessment addressing the elements set forth in WAC 388-78A-0100 for each resident at least annually;

     (2) Complete a limited assessment of a resident's identified problems and related issues:

     (a) Consistent with the resident's change of condition as specified in WAC 388-78A-0350; or

     (b) When the resident's negotiated service agreement no longer addresses the resident's current needs.

     (3) Determine the qualifications of the staff person responsible for performing the on-going assessments of current residents in the boarding home;

     (4) Ensure the staff person performing the on-going assessments is competent to perform them; and

     (5) Ensure a registered nurse is responsible for the assessment or re-assessment of the nursing needs of each current resident who requires the services of a licensed nurse while on the boarding home premises.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0120   Resident participation in assessments.   The boarding home must directly involve each resident or prospective resident, to the extent possible, along with any appropriate resident representative approved by the resident, in the assessment and re-assessment process in the boarding home.

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NEGOTIATED SERVICE AGREEMENT
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0130   Service agreement planning.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Develop a preliminary negotiated service agreement, based upon discussions with the resident and the resident's representative if the resident has one, and the assessment of a qualified assessor, before a resident moves into a boarding home;

     (2) Integrate the assessment information provided by the department's case manager into the negotiated service agreement for each resident whose care is partially or wholly funded by the department;

     (3) Develop a negotiated service agreement for each resident by reviewing and updating each resident's preliminary negotiated service agreement, based upon additional information obtained after the resident moves in, within thirty days of the resident moving in;

     (4) Review and update each resident's negotiated service agreement consistent with WAC 388-78A-0350:

     (a) Within a reasonable time consistent with the needs of the resident following any change in the resident's physical, mental, or emotional functioning; and

     (b) Whenever the negotiated service agreement no longer adequately addresses the resident's current assessed needs and preferences.

     (5) Review each resident's negotiated service agreement following a complete annual re-assessment and update the plan as necessary;

     (6) Involve the following persons in the process of developing a negotiated service agreement to the extent they are willing and capable:

     (a) The resident or prospective resident;

     (b) The resident's representative, if the resident has one;

     (c) The resident's family, if desired and approved by the resident;

     (d) Other individuals the resident wants included;

     (e) Any public or private case manager, if available; and

     (f) Staff designated by the boarding home.

     (7) Ensure:

     (a) Individuals participating in developing the resident's negotiated service agreement:

     (i) Discuss the resident's assessed needs, capabilities, and preferences; and

     (ii) Negotiate and agree upon the care and services to be provided to support the resident.

     (b) A registered nurse develops the nursing component of the negotiated service agreement for any resident who needs licensed nursing services on the boarding home premises; and

     (c) Staff persons document in the resident's record the agreed upon plan for services.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0140   Negotiated service agreement contents.   The boarding home must develop, and document in the resident's record, the agreed upon plan to address and support each resident's assessed capabilities, needs and preferences, including the following:

     (1) The care and services necessary to meet the resident's needs, including:

     (a) The plan to monitor the resident and address interventions for risks to the resident's health and safety that were identified in the resident's assessment;

     (b) The plan to provide assistance with activities of daily living;

     (c) The plan to provide necessary nursing services, if provided by the boarding home;

     (d) The resident's preferences for how services will be provided; and

     (e) The plans to accommodate the resident's preferences.

     (2) Clearly defined respective roles and responsibilities of the resident, the boarding home staff, and resident's family or other significant persons in meeting the resident's needs and preferences. If a person other than a resident-care staff person is to be responsible for providing care or services to the resident in the boarding home, the boarding home must specify in the negotiated service agreement an alternate plan for providing care or service to the resident in the event the necessary services are not provided. The boarding home may develop an alternate plan:

     (a) Exclusively for the individual resident, or

     (b) Based on standard policies and procedures in the boarding home.

     (3) The times services will be delivered, including frequency and approximate time of day, as appropriate;

     (4) The resident's preferences for activities and how those preferences will be supported;

     (5) Appropriate behavioral interventions, if needed;

     (6) A communication plan, if special communication needs are present; and

     (7) The resident's ability to leave the boarding home premises unsupervised.

     (8) The boarding home must not require or ask the resident or the resident's representative to sign any contract or agreement, including a negotiated service or risk agreement, that purports to waive any rights of the resident or that purports to place responsibility or liability for losses of personal property or injury on the resident.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0150   Signing negotiated service agreement.   The boarding home must ensure that the negotiated service agreement is agreed to and signed at least annually by:

     (1) The resident, or the resident's representative if the resident has one and is unable to sign or chooses not to sign;

     (2) A representative of the boarding home duly authorized by the boarding home to sign on its behalf; and

     (3) Any public or private case manager for the resident, if available.

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BOARDING HOME SERVICESBASIC SERVICES
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0160   Basic boarding home services.   (1) The boarding home must assume general responsibility for each resident and promote each resident's health, well-being and safety consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement.

     (2) All boarding homes must provide to each resident, consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement, assistance with:

     (a) Activities -- Arranging for social, recreational, religious, or other activities in the boarding home and in the community, based on the resident's assessed abilities and preferences;

     (b) Arranging transportation -- Assisting the resident with arranging transportation to medical appointments, but the boarding home is not required to directly provide transportation;

     (c) Functional aids and equipment--Assisting the resident in obtaining and maintaining functional aids and equipment, including but not limited to glasses, hearing aids, dentures, canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and assistive communication devices;

     (d) Housework -- Maintaining safe, clean and comfortable personal living quarters for the resident;

     (e) Laundry -- Keeping the resident's clothing clean and in good repair, and providing on a weekly basis or more often as necessary to maintain cleanliness, clean towels, washcloths, bed sheets and pillow case;

     (f) Preparing for necessary health care services -- Cuing and monitoring the resident to follow instructions related to preparation for medical or laboratory services;

     (g) Self-administration of medication -- Self-administration (of medications) with assistance as described in RCW 69.41.010 and chapter 246-888 WAC;

     (h) Self-administration of treatments -- Assisting the resident with self-administration of prescribed treatments to the degree that does not require a licensed professional's intervention;

     (i) Therapeutic diets -- Providing prescribed modified and therapeutic diets and assisting the resident with following them.

     (3) When a boarding home provides, either directly or indirectly, assistance with activities of daily living, the boarding home must provide to each resident, at a minimum, assistance as needed, with:

     (a) Bathing -- Including supervising the resident who is able to bathe when cued and encouraged, and steadying the resident getting in or out of the tub/shower, or washing areas that are hard to reach, such as the residents' legs, feet, and back;

     (b) Dressing -- Including setting up clothes and cuing and monitoring the resident, donning and removing prostheses, and providing the physical assistance necessary for the resident to put on, fasten, and take off clothing;

     (c) Eating -- Cuing, encouraging, and supervising the resident as needed when the resident is eating, and assisting the resident with tasks that are difficult for the resident, such as cutting food or buttering bread;

     (d) Locomotion -- Assisting the resident with walking and wheelchair mobility, including cuing, monitoring, and providing standby assistance necessary to enable residents to take part in services and activities available in the boarding home, and to safely evacuate in emergencies;

     (e) Personal hygiene -- Assisting the resident with care of hair, teeth, dentures, shaving, filing of nails, and other basic personal hygiene and grooming needs, including supervising the resident when the resident is performing the tasks, assisting the resident to care for his/her own appearance, and occasionally performing grooming tasks for the resident when the resident is unable to care for his/her own appearance;

     (f) Toilet use -- Assisting the resident with toileting, including guidance when the resident is able to care for his/her own toileting needs, helping the resident to and from the bathroom, assisting the resident with incontinent products, cuing the resident to wash hands, and performing occasional perineal care, but the boarding home is not required to provide continuous or routine perineal care; and

     (g) Transferring -- Monitoring and providing one-person standby assistance to the resident when the resident is able to assist in his/her own transfers including, but not limited to, getting into and out of bed, wheelchair, vehicle, and onto and off of a toilet/commode or shower chair.

     (4) The boarding home must have the capacity to deliver the basic boarding home services on both a scheduled and a nonscheduled basis, and provide them as needed by residents.

     (5) The boarding home must:

     (a) Provide care and services to each resident by staff persons who are able to communicate with the resident in a language the resident understands; or

     (b) Make provisions for communications between staff persons and residents to ensure an accurate exchange of information.

     (6) The boarding home must ensure each resident is able to obtain individually preferred personal care items when:

     (a) The preferred personal care items are reasonably available, and

     (b) The resident is willing and able to pay for obtaining the preferred items.

     (7) The boarding home may provide more extensive services than the basic boarding home services, consistent with state and federal law, the boarding home's disclosure statement as required by WAC 388-78A-0690 and 388-78A-0050.

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ACTIVITIES
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0170   Activities.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Provide space and staff support necessary for:

     (a) Each resident to engage in independent or self-directed activities that are appropriate to the setting, consistent with the resident's assessed interests, functional abilities, preferences, and negotiated service agreement; and

     (b) Group activities at least three times per week that may be planned and facilitated by resident-care staff persons consistent with the collective interests of a group of residents.

     (2) Make available supplies and equipment necessary for activities described in subsection (1) of this section.

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MEDICATIONS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0180   Medication services.   (1) The boarding home must ensure the following residents receive their medications as prescribed, except as provided for in WAC 388-78A-0200:

     (a) Each resident who requires medication assistance and his or her negotiated service agreement indicates the boarding home will provide medication assistance; and

     (b) Each resident who requires medication administration and his or her negotiated service agreement indicates the boarding home will provide medication administration, if the boarding home provides medication administration services.

     (2) The boarding home must provide medication assistance, consistent with applicable statutes and administrative rules, to residents who need and desire this service.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0190   Prescribed medication authorizations.   (1) The boarding home must have one of the following present in the boarding home before the boarding home may provide medication assistance or medication administration to a resident for prescribed medications:

     (a) A prescription label completed by a licensed pharmacy,

     (b) A written order from the prescriber,

     (c) A facsimile or other electronic transmission of the order from the prescriber, or

     (d) Written documentation by a nurse of a telephone order from the prescriber.

     (2) The documentation required above in subsection (1) of this section must include the following information:

     (a) The name of the resident,

     (b) The name of the medication,

     (c) The dosage and dosage frequency of the medication, and

     (d) The name of the prescriber.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0200   Medication refusal.   (1) When a resident who is receiving medication assistance or medication administration services from the board home chooses to not take his or her medications, the boarding home must ensure:

     (a) If there is a staff person available who, acting within his or her scope of practice, is able to evaluate the significance of the resident not getting his or her medication, such staff person;

     (i) Conducts an evaluation; and

     (ii) Takes the appropriate action, including notifying the prescriber or primary care practitioner when there is a consistent pattern of the resident choosing to not take his or her medications.

     (b) If a staff person meeting the criteria in (a) of this subsection is not available to evaluate the condition of the resident and the significance of the medication, another staff person:

     (i) Notifies the prescriber or primary care practitioner of the resident not getting his or her medication;

     (ii) Informs the prescriber or primary care practitioner if the staff person is not a nurse; and

     (iii) Does not exceed his or her scope of practice regarding any directives issued from the prescriber or primary care practitioner in response to the notification.

     (2) The boarding home must comply with subsection (1)(a) through (b) of this section, unless the prescriber or primary care practitioner has provided the boarding home with:

     (a) Specific directions for addressing the refusal of the identified medication;

     (b) The boarding home documents such directions; and

     (c) The boarding home is able to fully comply with such directions.

     (3) When a resident who is receiving medication assistance or medication administration services chooses to not take his or her medications, the boarding home must:

     (a) Respect the resident's right to choose to not take the medication; and

     (b) Document the time, date and medication the resident did not take.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0210   Nonavailability of medications.   (1) When the boarding home has assumed responsibility for obtaining a resident's prescribed medications, the boarding home must obtain them in a correct and timely manner.

     (2) When prescribed medications are not available for a resident requiring medication assistance or medication administration services from the boarding home and the responsibility for obtaining the resident's medications remains with the resident, the resident's family or other individual acting on behalf of the resident, the boarding home must ensure:

     (a) If there is a staff person available who, acting within his or her scope of practice, is able to evaluate the significance of the resident not getting his or her medication, such staff person conducts an evaluation and takes the appropriate action.

     (b) If no such staff person meeting the criteria in (a) of this subsection is available to evaluate the significance of the resident not getting his or her medication, a staff person notifies the prescriber or primary care practitioner within a reasonable time that the medication is not available for the resident. The boarding home must ensure such staff person:

     (i) Informs the prescriber or primary care practitioner if the staff person is not a nurse, and

     (ii) Not exceed his or her scope of practice regarding any directives issued from the prescriber or primary care practitioner in response to the notification.

     (3) The boarding home must review and modify as necessary the plan for obtaining the resident's prescribed medications with the resident and those responsible for obtaining the medications on the resident's behalf when medications are not available for the resident.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0220   Alteration of medications.   (1) The boarding home must provide medications in the form they are prescribed when administering medications or providing medication assistance to a resident, except the boarding home may provide medications in an altered form when:

     (a) The resident is unable or unwilling to take the medications in their normal form;

     (b) The boarding home has documentation that a practitioner acting within his or her scope of practice has determined that it is safe and appropriate to alter the medication in a specified manner;

     (c) The boarding home has informed the resident that the medication is being offered or administered in an altered form before taken by the resident; and

     (d) The resident agrees to take the medications in the altered form.

     (2) The boarding home must ensure any staff persons who alter medications in the boarding home are acting within their scope of practice and applicable statutes and rules regarding the practice of pharmacy and nursing.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0230   Storing, securing, and accounting for medications.   (1) The boarding home must secure medications for residents who are not capable of safely storing their own medications.

     (2) The boarding home must ensure all medications under the boarding home's control are properly stored:

     (a) In containers with pharmacist-prepared label or original manufacturer's label;

     (b) Together for each resident and physically separated from other residents' medications;

     (c) Separate from food or toxic chemicals;

     (d) In a locked compartment that is accessible only to designated responsible staff persons or appropriate resident; and

     (e) In environments recommended on the medication label.

     (3) The boarding home must have two staff persons inventory and document no less than once per day, all drugs stored by the boarding home described as schedule II and III drugs in chapter 246-887 WAC.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0240   Resident controlled medications.   (1) The boarding home must ensure all medications are stored in a manner that prevents each resident from gaining access to another resident's medications.

     (2) The boarding home must allow the following residents, who are capable of responsibly securing their own medications, to control and secure the medications that they self-administer, and the medications they direct others to administer:

     (a) Residents who are capable of independently self-administering specific medications on their own; and

     (b) Residents who are capable of safely directing others to administer their medications.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0250   Medication organizers.   (1) The boarding home must ensure no staff person other than a nurse fills medication organizers for residents. A nurse may fill a medication organizer for a resident only when:

     (a) The resident understands the use of the medications that have been prescribed for him or her; and

     (b) The resident is totally independent with self-administration of medications when using a medication organizer, except for the physical assistance required to fill the medication organizer, or the resident can safely direct others to administer his or her medications; and

     (c) Staff persons have no further responsibility for:

     (i) Storing the resident's medication; or

     (ii) Providing any additional medication assistance to the resident beyond filling the medication organizer; or

     (iii) Providing medication administration services to the resident.

     (d) The medication organizer carries a label that clearly identifies:

     (i) The name of the resident,

     (ii) The name of the medications in the organizer, and

     (iii) The frequency of the dosage.

     (2) Consistent with subsections (1) and (3) of this section, the boarding home must not use a medication organizer for a resident, filled by anyone other than a licensed pharmacy, any time the boarding home is:

     (a) Involved in storing the resident's medications;

     (b) Providing medication assistance to the resident; or

     (c) Providing medication administration services to the resident.

     (3) A resident may use a medication organizer only when he or she stores and secures the medication organizer and is capable of either:

     (a) Independently self-administering his or her own medications contained in the medication organizer, or

     (b) Safely directing others to administer his or her medications contained in the medication organizer.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0260   Family assistance with medication.   (1) If the boarding home allows family assistance with medications and the resident and a family member(s) agree a family member will provide medication assistance or medication administration services to the resident, the boarding home must:

     (a) Jointly develop a plan for medication assistance or medication administration with the resident and the responsible family member(s);

     (b) Include a back-up plan in the event the family does not provide the medication services; and

     (c) Clearly delineate and document in the resident's negotiated service agreement, each party's respective responsibilities.

     (2) The boarding home must ensure that whenever a resident's family provides medication assistance or medication administration services, the resident's medications remain on the boarding home premises whenever the resident is on the boarding home premises.

[]

FOOD
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0270   Food and nutrition services.   (1) The boarding home must:

     (a) Provide a minimum of three meals a day:

     (i) At regular intervals;

     (ii) With no more than fourteen hours between the evening meal and breakfast, unless the boarding home provides a nutritious snack between the evening meal and breakfast.

     (b) Provide sufficient time and staff support for residents to consume meals;

     (c) Ensure all menus:

     (i) Are written at least one week in advance and delivered to residents' rooms or posted where residents can see them, except as specified in (f) of this subsection;

     (ii) Indicate the date, day of week, month and year;

     (iii) Include all food and snacks served that contribute to nutritional requirements;

     (iv) Are retained at least six months;

     (v) Provide a variety of foods; and

     (vi) Are not repeated for at least three weeks, except that breakfast menus in boarding homes that provide a variety of daily choices of hot and cold foods are not required to have a minimum three-week cycle.

     (d) Prepare on site, or provide through a contract with a food service establishment located in the vicinity and that meets the requirements of chapter 246-215 WAC, palatable, attractively served meals and nourishments that meet the current recommended Dietary Allowances established by the Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council, adjusted for:

     (i) Age, sex and activities, unless medically contraindicated; and

     (ii) Individual and ethnic preferences to the extent reasonably possible.

     (e) Substitute foods, when changes in the current day's menu are necessary, of equal nutrient value and record changes on the original menu;

     (f) Make available and known to residents alternate choices in entrees for midday and evening meals that are of comparable quality and nutritional value. The boarding home is not required to post alternate choices in entrees on the menu one week in advance, but must record on the menus the alternate choices in entrees that are served;

     (g) Develop, make known to residents, and implement a process for residents to express their views and comment on the food services; and

     (h) Maintain a dining area or areas approved by the department with a seating capacity for fifty percent or more of the residents per meal setting, or ten square feet times the licensed resident bed capacity, whichever is greater.

     (2) The boarding home must plan in writing, prepare on site or provide through a contract with a food service establishment located in the vicinity that meets the requirements of chapter 246-215 WAC, and serve as ordered:

     (a) Resident specific, modified or therapeutic diets according to a diet manual, when and as prescribed by a health care practitioner. The boarding home must ensure the diet manual is:

     (i) Available to and used by staff persons responsible for food preparation,

     (ii) Approved by a dietitian, and

     (iii) Reviewed and updated as necessary or at least every five years.

     (b) Nutrient concentrates and supplements when prescribed in writing by a health care practitioner.

     (3) The boarding home may provide to a resident at his or her request and as agreed upon in the resident's negotiated service agreement, nonprescribed:

     (a) Modified or therapeutic diets;

     (b) Nutritional concentrates or supplements.

     (4) The boarding home must manage food, and maintain any on site food service facilities in compliance with chapter 246-215 WAC, Food service sanitation, except the boarding home may:

     (a) Serve home-canned jams, jellies and fruit with a pH of less than 4.6; and

     (b) In boarding homes licensed for sixteen or fewer beds, use domestic or home-type kitchen appliances, provided that:

     (i) If a home-type mechanical dishwasher was installed before September 1, 2004, the boarding home must:

     (A) Operate it according to manufacturer directions; and

     (B) Ensure the dishwasher is supplied with water heated to 155° F or more.

     (ii) If a home-type mechanical dishwasher is installed after September 1, 2004, the boarding home must ensure the dishwasher has:

     (A) A high temperature final rinse water at a minimum of 180° F measured by the gauge;

     (B) A high temperature final rinse resulting in a minimum of 160° F measured at the surface of the utensil;

     (C) A continuous supply of water heated to 155° F throughout its operating cycle; or

     (D) An automatically dispensed approved concentration of chemical sanitizer as described in 21 C.F.R. Part 178.

     (5) The boarding home must ensure employees working as food service workers obtain a food worker card according to chapter 246-217 WAC.

     (6) The boarding home must ensure a resident obtains a food worker card according to chapter 246-217 WAC whenever:

     (a) The resident is routinely or regularly involved in the preparation of food to be served to other residents;

     (b) The resident is paid for helping to prepare food; or

     (c) The resident is preparing food to be served to other residents as part of an employment-training program.

[]

HEALTH CARE SUPPORTS AND NURSING SERVICES
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0280   Need to provide nursing services.   Nursing services are an optional service that a boarding home may provide. However, the boarding home must ensure:

     (1) Each resident who requires nursing services in the boarding home either:

     (a) Receives the nursing services according to his or her negotiated service agreement from:

     (i) The boarding home;

     (ii) Nursing resources acting on the boarding home's behalf; or

     (iii) Resources external to the boarding home that have been arranged by the resident or a person acting on the resident's behalf, and coordinated with the boarding home as specified in WAC 388-78A-330.

     (b) Is transferred or discharged to an appropriate setting consistent with RCW 70.129.110 if necessary nursing services are not provided in the boarding home.

     (2) Needed nursing services are provided consistent with any disclosure statements made to the public.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0290   Tube feeding.   (1) The boarding home must provide nursing services to develop and implement the nursing component of the negotiated service agreement, administer feedings and necessary medications, and provide routine care of the tube insertion site whenever any resident requiring tube feeding is not able to:

     (a) Independently and safely manage:

     (i) Maintenance of the tube insertion site;

     (ii) Necessary medication administration through the tube; and

     (iii) Feeding administration through the tube.

     (b) Arrange for an outside resource to provide:

     (i) Maintenance of the tube insertion site;

     (ii) Necessary medication administration through the tube; and

     (iii) Feeding administration through the tube.

     (2) The boarding home is not required to provide nursing services to a resident simply because the resident requires tube feeding if the resident can either independently manage or arrange for an outside resource to perform the tasks specified in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0300   Supervision of nursing services.   The boarding home must ensure a registered nurse supervises any nursing services the boarding home provides. In order to supervise the services, the boarding home may:

     (1) Hire a registered nurse on staff;

     (2) Contract directly with an individual registered nurse; or

     (3) Contract with an agency, organization or service to provide registered nurse supervision.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0310   Responsibilities of nursing supervisor.   The boarding home must ensure the registered nurse supervising any nursing services provided by the boarding home:

     (1) Supervises the system of providing nursing services in the boarding home;

     (2) Ensures nursing services and nurse delegation are provided consistent with applicable statutes and administrative rules, including, but not limited to:

     (a) Chapter 18.79 RCW, Nursing care;

     (b) Chapter 18.88A RCW, Nursing assistants;

     (c) Chapter 246-840 WAC, Practical and registered nursing;

     (d) Chapter 246-841 WAC, Nursing assistants; and

     (e) Chapter 246-888 WAC, Medication assistance.

     (3) Ensures a registered nurse:

     (a) Is responsible for the nursing assessments and reassessments of the nursing needs of current and prospective residents who require licensed nursing services on the boarding home premises;

     (b) Develops or amends as necessary the nursing portion of the negotiated service agreements for residents who require licensed nursing services on the boarding home premises;

     (c) Supervises the implementation of residents' nursing plans; and

     (d) Is available in person, by pager, or by telephone and can respond to residents' needs on the boarding home premises as necessary, consistent with the boarding home's disclosure statement regarding the extent of nursing services the boarding home provides.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0320   Resident-arranged services.   (1) The boarding home must allow a resident to arrange to receive on-site care and services from a practitioner, consistent with:

     (a) Title 18 RCW regulating health care professions;

     (b) Chapter 70.129 RCW, Long-term care resident rights;

     (c) The boarding home's policies and procedures; and

     (d) The boarding home's disclosure statement.

     (2) The boarding home must coordinate resident-arranged health care services consistent with WAC 388-78A-0330.

     (3) The boarding home is not required to supervise the activities of a person providing care or services to a resident when the resident or resident's representative has independently arranged for or contracted with the person and the person is not directly or indirectly controlled or paid by the boarding home.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0330   Coordination of health care services.   (1) The boarding home must coordinate services with external health care providers to meet the residents' needs, consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement.

     (2) The boarding home must develop, implement, and make known to residents the boarding home's policies regarding how the boarding home interacts with external health care providers, including:

     (a) The conditions under which health care information regarding a resident will be shared with external health care providers, consistent with chapter 70.02 RCW; and

     (b) How residents' rights to privacy will be protected, including provisions for residents to authorize the release of health care information.

     (3) The boarding home may disclose health care information about a resident to external health care providers without the resident's authorization if the conditions in RCW 70.02.050 are met.

     (4) If the conditions in RCW 70.02.050 are not met, the boarding home must request, but may not require, a resident to authorize the boarding home and the external health care provider to share the resident's health care information when:

     (a) The boarding home becomes aware that a resident is receiving health care services from a source other than the boarding home; and

     (b) The resident has not previously authorized the boarding home to release health care information to an external health care provider.

     (5) When a resident authorizes the release of health care information or resident authorization is not required under RCW 70.02.050, the boarding home must contact the external health care provider and coordinate services.

     (6) When authorizations to release health care information are not obtained, or when an external health care provider is unresponsive to the boarding home's efforts to coordinate services, the boarding home must:

     (a) Document the boarding home's actions to coordinate services;

     (b) Provide notice to the resident of the risks of not allowing the boarding home to coordinate care with the external provider; and

     (c) Address known associated risks in the resident's negotiated service agreement.

     (7) When coordinating care or services, the boarding home must:

     (a) Integrate relevant information from the external provider into the resident's assessment, and when appropriate, negotiated service agreement; and

     (b) Respond appropriately when there are observable or reported changes in the resident's physical, mental, or emotional functioning.

[]

SERVICE DELIVERY AND MONITORING
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0340   Implementation of negotiated service agreement.   The boarding home must provide the care and services as agreed upon in the negotiated service agreement to each resident unless a deviation from the negotiated service agreement is mutually agreed upon between the boarding home and the resident or the resident's representative at the time the care or services are scheduled.

[]


NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0350   Monitoring residents' well being.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Observe each resident consistent with his or her assessed needs and negotiated service agreement;

     (2) Identify any changes in the resident's physical, emotional, and mental functioning that are a:

     (a) Departure from the resident's customary range of functioning; or

     (b) Recurring condition in a resident's physical, emotional, or mental functioning that has previously required intervention by others.

     (3) Evaluate the change identified in the resident per subsection (2) of this section to determine if there is a need for further action, including but not limited to reassessment;

     (4) Ensure that changes that may require further action by the boarding home are documented in the resident's record;

     (5) Reassess a resident consistent with WAC 388-78A-0110 if reassessment is identified as needed;

     (6) Update the negotiated service as needed; and

     (7) Take appropriate action in response to each resident's changing needs.

[]

ADULT DAY CARE
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0360   Adult day care.   (1) The boarding home may, but is not required to, provide an adult day care program for nonresidents.

     (2) If adult day care is provided, the boarding home must:

     (a) Ensure each adult day care client receives appropriate supervision and agreed upon care and services during the time spent in the day care program;

     (b) Ensure the care and services provided to adult day care clients do not compromise the care and services provided to boarding home residents;

     (c) Ensure the total number of residents plus adult day care clients does not exceed the boarding home's maximum facility capacity;

     (d) Only accept adult day care clients who are appropriate for boarding home care and services, consistent with WAC 388-78A-0050;

     (e) Provide sufficient furniture for the comfort of day care adults, in addition to furniture provided for residents;

     (f) Notify appropriate individuals specified in the client's record and consistent with WAC 388-78A-0630 when there is a significant change in the condition of an adult day care client;

     (g) Investigate and document incidents and accidents involving adult day care clients consistent with WAC 388-78A-0680;

     (h) Maintain a separate register of adult day care clients; and

     (i) Maintain a resident record for each adult day care client.

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DEMENTIA CARE
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0370   Dementia care.   (1) The boarding home must, to the fullest extent reasonably possible, obtain for each resident meeting the screening criteria according to WAC 388-78A-0510:

     (a) Information regarding the resident's significant life experiences, including:

     (i) Parents, step-parents, siblings, and step-siblings;

     (ii) Current and former spouses, children, and step-children or other significant relationships;

     (iii) Education and training;

     (iv) Employment and career experiences;

     (v) Religious or spiritual preferences;

     (vi) Familiar roles or sources of pride and pleasure.

     (b) Information regarding the resident's ability or inability to:

     (i) Articulate his or her personal needs; and

     (ii) Initiate activity.

     (c) Information regarding any patterns of resident behavior that express the resident's needs or concerns that the resident is not able to verbalize. Examples of such behaviors include, but are not limited to:

     (i) Agitation;

     (ii) Wandering;

     (iii) Resistance to care;

     (iv) Social isolation; and

     (v) Aggression.

     (2) The boarding home, in consultation with the resident's family or others familiar with the resident, must evaluate the significance and implications of the information obtained per subsection (1) of this section and integrate appropriate aspects into an individualized negotiated service agreement for the resident.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0380   Restricted egress.   A boarding home must ensure all of the following conditions are present before moving residents into units or buildings with exits that may restrict a resident's egress:

     (1) Each resident, or a person authorized under RCW 7.70.065 to provide consent on behalf of the resident, consents to living in such unit or building.

     (2) Each resident assessed as being cognitively and physically able to safely leave the boarding home is able to do so independently without restriction.

     (3) Each resident, assessed as being cognitively able to safely leave the boarding home but has physical challenges that make exiting difficult, is able to leave the boarding home when the resident desires and in a manner consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement.

     (4) Each resident who is assessed as being unsafe to leave the boarding home unescorted is able to leave the boarding home consistent with his or her negotiated service agreement.

     (5) Areas from which egress is restricted are equipped throughout with an approved automatic fire detection system and automatic fire sprinkler system electrically interconnected with a fire alarm system that transmits an alarm off site to a twenty-four hour monitoring station.

     (6) Installation of special egress control devices in all proposed construction issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004 must conform to standards adopted by the state building code council.

     (7) Installation of special egress control devices in all construction issued a project number by Construction Review Services prior to September 1, 2004 must conform to the following:

     (a) The egress control device must automatically deactivate upon activation of either the sprinkler system or the smoke detection system.

     (b) The egress control device must automatically deactivate upon loss of electrical power to any one of the following:

     (i) The egress control device itself;

     (ii) The smoke detection system; or

     (iii) The means of egress illumination.

     (c) The egress control device must be capable of being deactivated by a signal from a switch located in an approved location.

     (d) An irreversible process which will deactivate the egress control device must be initiated whenever a manual force of not more than fifteen pounds is applied for two seconds to the panic bar or other door-latching hardware. The egress control device must deactivate within an approved time period not to exceed a total of fifteen seconds. The time delay must not be field adjustable.

     (e) Actuation of the panic bar or other door-latching hardware must activate an audible signal at the door.

     (f) The unlatching must not require more than one operation.

     (g) A sign must be provided on the door located above and within twelve inches of the panic bar or other door-latching hardware reading:

     "Keep pushing. The door will open in fifteen seconds. Alarm will sound."

     The sign lettering must be at least one inch in height and must have a stroke of not less than one-eighth inch.

     (h) Regardless of the means of deactivation, relocking of the egress control device must be by manual means only at the door.

     (8) The boarding home must have a system in place to inform and permit visitors, staff persons and appropriate residents how they can exit without sounding the alarm.

     (9) Units or buildings from which egress is restricted are equipped with a secured outdoor space for walking which:

     (a) Is accessible to residents without staff assistance;

     (b) Is surrounded by walls or fences at least seventy-two inches high;

     (c) Has areas protected from direct sunshine and rain throughout the day;

     (d) Has walking surfaces that are firm, stable, slip-resistant and free from abrupt changes and are suitable for individuals using wheelchairs and walkers;

     (e) Has suitable outdoor furniture; and

     (f) Has plants that are not poisonous or toxic to humans.

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RESIDENT RECORDS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0390   Resident records.   The boarding home must maintain adequate records concerning residents to enable the boarding home:

     (1) To effectively provide the care and services agreed upon with the resident; and

     (2) To respond appropriately in emergency situations.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0400   Protection of resident records.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Maintain a systematic and secure method of identifying and filing resident records for easy access;

     (2) Maintain resident records and preserve their confidentiality in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes and rules, including chapters 70.02 and 70.129 RCW;

     (3) Allow authorized representatives of the department and other authorized regulatory agencies access to resident records;

     (4) Provide any resident or other individual or organization access to resident records upon written consent of the resident or the resident's representative, unless state or federal law provide for broader access;

     (5) Allow authorized agents, such as a management company, to use resident records solely for the purpose of providing care and services to residents and ensure that agents do not disclose such records except in a manner consistent with law; and

     (6) Maintain ownership and control of resident records, except that resident records may be transferred to a subsequent person licensed by the department to operate the boarding home.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0410   Content of resident records.   The boarding home must maintain in the boarding home relevant current documentation of the following in the active records for each resident:

     (1) Resident identifying information, including resident's:

     (a) Name,

     (b) Birth date,

     (c) Move-in date, and

     (d) Sleeping room identification.

     (2) Current name, address, and telephone number of:

     (a) Resident's primary health care provider;

     (b) Resident's representative, if the resident has one;

     (c) Individual(s) to contact in case of emergency, illness or death; and

     (d) Family members or others, if any, the resident requests to be involved in the development or delivery of services for the resident.

     (3) Resident's written acknowledgment of receipt of:

     (a) Required disclosure information prior to moving into the boarding home, and relevant updates; and

     (b) Long-term care resident rights per RCW 70.129.030.

     (4) The resident's assessment and reassessment information.

     (5) Clinical information such as admission weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, blood sugar and other laboratory tests required by the negotiated service agreement.

     (6) The resident's negotiated service agreement consistent with WAC 388-78A-0140.

     (7) Any orders for medications, treatments, and modified or therapeutic diets, including any directions for addressing a resident's refusal of medications, treatments, and prescribed diets.

     (8) Medical and nursing services provided by the boarding home for a resident, including:

     (a) A record of providing medication assistance and medication administration, which contains:

     (i) The medication name, dose, and route of administration;

     (ii) The time and date of any medication assistance or administration;

     (iii)The signature or initials of the person providing any medication assistance or administration; and

     (iv) Documentation of a resident choosing to not take his or her medications.

     (b) A record of any nursing treatments, including the signature or initials of the person providing them.

     (9) Dates and descriptions of a resident's:

     (a) Accidents,

     (b) Incidents,

     (c) Injuries, and

     (d) Changes in condition as specified in WAC 388-78A-0350.

     (10) Staff interventions or responses to subsection (9) of this section, including any modifications made to the resident's negotiated service agreement.

     (11) Notices of and reasons for relocation as specified in RCW 70.129.110.

     (12) The individuals who were notified of a significant change in the resident's condition and the time and date of the notification.

     (12) When available, a copy of any legal documents in which:

     (a) The resident has appointed another individual to make his or her health care, financial, or other decisions;

     (b) The resident has created an advance directive or other legal document that establishes a surrogate decision maker in the future and/or provides directions to health care providers; and

     (c) A court has established guardianship on behalf of the resident.

[]

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0420   Format of resident records.   The boarding home must organize and maintain resident records in a format that the boarding home determines to be useful and functional for the boarding home to effectively provide care and services to each resident.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0430   Record retention.   (1) The boarding home must maintain on the boarding home premises in a resident's active record(s) all relevant information and documentation necessary for meeting a resident's current needs.

     (2) The boarding home may remove outdated information from the resident's active records that is no longer significant or relevant to the resident's current service and care needs, and maintain it in an inactive record that must remain on the boarding home premises as long as the resident remains in the boarding home.

     (3) The boarding home must maintain all documentation filed in a closed resident record, on the boarding home premises for six months after the date the resident leaves the boarding home and on the boarding home premises or another location for five years after the date the resident leaves the boarding home.

     (4) All active, inactive, and closed resident records must be available for review by department staff and other authorized persons.

     (5) If a boarding home ceases to operate as a licensed boarding home, the most recent licensee must make arrangements to ensure that the former residents' records are retained according to the times specified in this section and are available for review by department staff and other authorized individuals.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0440   Resident review of records.   (1) The boarding home must assemble all records pertaining to a resident and make them available to a resident within twenty-four hours of the resident's or the resident's representative's request to review the resident's records per RCW 70.129.030.

     (2) The boarding home must provide to the resident or the resident's representative, photocopies of the records or any portions of the records pertaining to the resident, within two working days of the resident's or resident's representatives's request for the records.

     (a) For the purposes of this section, "working days" means Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays.

     (b) The boarding home may charge the resident or the resident's representative a fee not to exceed twenty-five cents per page for the cost of photocopying the resident's record.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0450   Resident register.   (1) The boarding home must maintain in the boarding home a single current roster of all boarding home residents, their roommates and identification of the rooms in which such persons reside or sleep.

     (2) The boarding home must make this roster immediately available to:

     (a) Authorized department staff;

     (b) Representatives of the long-term care ombudsman's office; and

     (c) Representatives of the Washington State Fire Protection Bureau when conducting fire safety inspections.

     (3) The boarding home must maintain a readily available permanent, current book, computer file, or register with entries in ink or typewritten, of all former boarding home residents within the past five years, including:

     (a) Date of moving in;

     (b) Full name;

     (c) Date of birth;

     (d) Date of moving out;

     (e) Reason for moving out; and

     (f) New address if known.

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ADMINISTRATIONSTAFF
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0460   Staff.   (1) Each boarding home must provide sufficient, trained staff persons to:

     (a) Furnish the services and care needed by each resident consistent with the boarding home's disclosure statements provided according to WAC 388-78A-0690;

     (b) Maintain the boarding home free of safety hazards; and

     (c) Implement fire and disaster plans.

     (2) The boarding home must:

     (a) Develop and maintain written job descriptions for the administrator and each staff position and provide each staff person with a copy of his or her job description before or upon the start of employment;

     (b) Verify staff persons' work references prior to hiring;

     (c) Verify prior to hiring that staff persons have the required licenses, certification, registrations, or other credentials for the position, and that such licenses, certifications, registrations, and credentials are current and in good standing;

     (d) Document and retain for twelve weeks, weekly staffing schedules, as planned and worked;

     (e) Ensure all resident care and services are provided only by staff persons who have the training, credentials, experience and other qualifications necessary to provide the care and services;

     (f) Ensure at least one resident-care staff person, who is eighteen years of age or older and has current cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid cards, is present and available to assist residents at all times:

     (i) When one or more residents are present on the boarding home premises;

     (ii) During boarding home activities off of the boarding home premises; and

     (iii) When staff persons transport a resident.

     (g) Ensure resident-care staff persons provide on site supervision of any resident voluntarily providing services for the boarding home;

     (h) Provide staff orientation and appropriate training for expected duties, including:

     (i) Organization of boarding home;

     (ii) Physical boarding home layout;

     (iii) Specific duties and responsibilities;

     (iv) How to report resident abuse and neglect consistent with chapter 74.34 RCW and boarding home policies and procedures;

     (v) Policies, procedures, and equipment necessary to perform duties;

     (vi) Needs and service preferences identified in the negotiated service agreements of residents with whom the resident-care staff persons will be working; and

     (vii) Resident rights, including without limitation, those specified in chapter 70.129 RCW.

     (i) Develop and implement a process to ensure resident-care staff persons:

     (i) Acquire the necessary information from the assessment and negotiated service agreement relevant to providing services to each resident with whom the resident-care staff person works;

     (ii) Are informed of changes in the negotiated service agreement of each resident with whom the resident-care staff person works; and

     (iii) Are given an opportunity to provide information to responsible staff regarding the resident when assessments and negotiated service agreements are updated for each resident with whom the resident-care staff person works.

     (j) Ensure all resident-care staff persons have access to resident records relevant to effectively providing care and services to the resident.

     (3) The boarding home must:

     (a) Ensure that staff persons meet the training requirements specified in chapter 388-112 WAC;

     (b) Protect all residents by ensuring any staff person suspected or accused of abuse does not have access to any resident until the boarding home investigates and takes action to ensure resident safety;

     (c) Not interfere with the investigation of a complaint, coerce a resident or staff person regarding cooperating with a complaint investigation, or conceal or destroy evidence of alleged improprieties occurring within the boarding home;

     (d) Prohibit staff persons from being directly employed by a resident or a resident's family during the hours the staff person is working for the boarding home;

     (e) Maintain the following documentation on the boarding home premises, during employment, and at least two years following termination of employment:

     (i) Staff orientation and training pertinent to duties, including but not limited to:

     (A) Training required by chapter 388-112 WAC, including as appropriate for each staff person, orientation, basic training or modified basic training, specialty training, nurse delegation core training, and continuing education;

     (B) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

     (C) First-aid; and

     (D) HIV/AIDS training.

     (ii) Criminal history disclosure and background checks as required in WAC 388-78A-0470; and

     (iii) Verification of contacting work references and professional licensing and certification boards as required by subsection (1) of this section.

     (4) The boarding home is not required to keep on the boarding home premises, staff records that are unrelated to staff performance of duties. Such records include, but are not limited to pay records, and health and insurance benefits for staff.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0470   Criminal history background checks.   (1) The boarding home must:

     (a) Not hire or retain, directly or by contract, any individual having unsupervised access to residents, except as provided in RCW 43.43.842 and subsection (1)(h) of this section, if that individual has been:

     (i) Convicted of a crime against persons as defined in RCW 43.43.830;

     (ii) Convicted of a crime relating to financial exploitation as defined in RCW 43.43.830;

     (iii) Found in any disciplinary board final decision to have abused a vulnerable adult under RCW 43.43.830;

     (iv) The subject in a protective proceeding under chapter 74.34 RCW;

     (v) Convicted of criminal mistreatment; or

     (vi) Found by the department to have abused, neglected, or exploited a vulnerable person in any matter in which an administrative hearing due process right is offered and the finding is upheld through the hearing process or the individual failed to timely appeal the finding.

     (b) Inform each individual identified below who is associated with the boarding home and who will have unsupervised access to residents in the boarding home, of the requirement for a criminal history background check:

     (i) Employees,

     (ii) Managers,

     (iii) Volunteers who are not residents,

     (iv) Contractors,

     (v) Students, and

     (vi) Any other nonresident individuals associated with the boarding home having unsupervised access to residents.

     (c) Require the individuals identified in subsection (1)(b) of this section to complete and sign a DSHS background authorization form prior to the individual having unsupervised access to residents;

     (d) Submit all criminal history background check authorization forms to the department's:

     (i) Aging and disability services administration with the initial application for licensure; and

     (ii) Background check central unit every two years for each individual identified in subsection (1)(b) of this section. A background check result is only valid for two years from the date it is conducted, at which point a new criminal history background check must be conducted.

     (e) Except as provided in subsection (1)(h) of this section, not hire an individual who may have unsupervised access to residents prior to receiving favorable results of the background check;

     (f) Verbally inform the named individual of his/her individual background check results and offer to provide him or her a copy of the background check results within ten days of receipt;

     (g) Ensure that all disclosure statements and background check results are:

     (i) Maintained on site in a confidential and secure manner;

     (ii) Used for employment purposes only;

     (iii) Not disclosed to any individual except:

     (A) The individual named on the background check result;

     (B) Authorized state and federal employees;

     (C) The Washington State Patrol auditor; and

     (D) As otherwise authorized in chapter 43.43 RCW.

     (iv) Retained and available for department review:

     (A) During the individual's employment or association with a facility, and

     (B) At least two years following termination of employment or association with a facility.

     (h) The boarding home may conditionally employ, contract with, accept as a volunteer or associate, an individual having unsupervised access to residents pending a background inquiry, provided the boarding home:

     (i) Obtains a criminal history background check authorization form from the individual prior to the individual beginning to work or perform volunteer activities; and

     (ii) Submits the criminal history background check authorization form to the department no later than one business day after the individual started working or volunteer activity.

     (2) The department may require the boarding home or any other individual associated with the boarding home who has unsupervised access to residents to complete additional disclosure statements or background inquiries if the department has reason to believe that offenses specified under RCW 43.43.830 have occurred since completion of the previous disclosure statement or background inquiry.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0480   TB tests.   (1) The boarding home must ensure each staff person is screened for tuberculosis, as follows:

     (a) A staff person must have a baseline two-step skin test initiated within three days of being hired unless the staff person meets the requirements in (b) or (c) of this subsection. The skin test must be:

     (i) Given no more than one to three weeks apart;

     (ii) By intradermal (Mantoux) administration of purified protein derivative (PPD);

     (iii) Read in forty-eight to seventy-two hours of administration, by trained personnel; and

     (iv) Recorded in millimeters of induration.

     (b) A staff person needs to have only a one-step skin test within three days of being hired if:

     (i) There is documented history of a negative result from previous two-step testing, or

     (ii) There was a documented negative result from one-step skin testing in the previous twelve months.

     (c) A staff person does not need to be skin tested for tuberculosis if he/she has:

     (i) Documented history of a previous positive skin test consisting of ten or more millimeters of induration; or

     (ii) Documented evidence of adequate therapy for active disease; or

     (iii) Documented evidence of adequate preventive therapy for infection.

     (d) A staff person must have one-step skin test annually unless he/she has a documented history of a previous positive skin test;

     (e) If a skin test results in a positive reaction, the boarding home must:

     (i) Ensure that the staff person has a chest X-ray within seven days;

     (ii) Report positive chest x-rays to the appropriate public health authority; and

     (iii) Follow precautions ordered by a physician or public health authority.

     (2) The boarding home must:

     (a) Retain in the boarding home for the duration of the staff person's employment, and at least two years following termination of employment, records of:

     (i) Tuberculin test results,

     (ii) Reports of x-ray findings, and

     (iii) Physician or public health official orders.

     (b) Provide staff persons with a copy of the records specified in (a) of this subsection:

     (i) During the time the staff person is employed in the boarding home, limited to one copy per report; and

     (ii) When requested by the staff person.

     (3) The boarding home must ensure that resident-care staff persons caring for a resident with suspected tuberculosis comply with the WISHA standard for respiratory protection.

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SPECIALIZED TRAINING
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0490   Specialized training for developmental disabilities.   The boarding home must provide resident-care staff persons with specialized training, consistent with chapter 388-112 WAC, to serve residents with developmental disabilities, whenever at least one of the residents in the boarding home is:

     (1) A person who meets the eligibility criteria for services defined in chapter 388-825 WAC; or

     (2) A person with a severe, chronic disability which is attributable to cerebral palsy or epilepsy, or any other condition, other than mental illness, found to be closely related to mental retardation which results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with mental retardation, and requires treatment or services similar to those required for these persons (i.e., autism), and:

     (a) The condition was manifested before the person reached eighteen;

     (b) The condition is likely to continue indefinitely; and

     (c) The condition results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activities:

     (i) Self-care,

     (ii) Understanding and use of language,

     (iii) Learning,

     (iv) Mobility,

     (v) Self-direction, and

     (vi) Capacity for independent living.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0500   Specialized training for mental illness.   The boarding home must provide resident-care staff persons with specialized training, consistent with chapter 388-112 WAC, to serve residents with mental illness, whenever at least one of the residents in the boarding home is a person who has been diagnosed with or treated for an Axis I or Axis II diagnosis, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, and:

     (1) Who has received the diagnosis or treatment within the previous two years; and

     (2) Whose diagnosis was made by, or treatment provided by, one of the following:

     (a) A licensed physician,

     (b) A mental health professional,

     (c) A psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner, or

     (d) A licensed psychologist.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0510   Specialized training for dementia.   (1) The boarding home must provide resident-care staff persons with specialized training, consistent with chapter 388-112 WAC, to serve residents with dementia, whenever at least one of the residents in the boarding home meets the screening criteria for dementia as outlined on DSHS 13-692.

     (2) While screening a resident for dementia, the boarding home must base any determination that the resident has short-term memory loss upon objective evidence, and document the evidence in the resident's record.

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ADMINISTRATOR
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0520   Administrator qualifications.   (1) The licensee must appoint an administrator who is at least twenty-one years old and who is not a resident, and is qualified to perform the administrator's duties specified in WAC 388-78A-0560.

     (2) The licensee must only appoint as a boarding home administrator an individual who meets at least one of the following qualifications listed in (a) through (f) below:

     (a) The individual was actively employed as a boarding home administrator and met existing qualifications on September 1, 2004;

     (b) The individual holds a current state nursing home administrator license in good standing;

     (c) Prior to assuming duties as a boarding home administrator, the individual has met the qualifications listed in both (i) and (ii) below:

     (i) Obtained certification of completing administrator training, or certification of passing an administrator examination, from or endorsed by a department-recognized national accreditation health or personal care organization such as:

     (A) The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, or

     (B) The American Health Care Association, or

     (C) The Assisted Living Federation of America, or

     (D) The National Association of Board of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators.

     (ii) Three years paid experience:

     (A) Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or

     (B) Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living.

     (d) The individual holds an associate degree in a related field of study such as health, social work, or business administration and meets the qualifications listed in either (i) or (ii) or (iii) below:

     (i) Obtains certification of completing administrator training, or certification of passing an administrator examination, within six months of beginning duties as the administrator, from or endorsed by a department-recognized national accreditation health or personal care organization such as:

     (A) The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, or

     (B) The American Health Care Association, or

     (C) The Assisted Living Federation of America, or

     (D) The National Association of Board of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators.

     (ii) Has two years paid experience:

     (A) Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or

     (B) Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living.

     (iii) Has completed a qualifying administrator training program supervised by a qualified administrator according to WAC 388-78A-0530.

     (e) The individual holds a bachelors degree in a related field of study such as health, social work, or business administration and meets the qualifications listed in either (i) or (ii) or (iii) below:

     (i) Obtains certification of completing administrator training, or certification of passing an administrator examination, within six months of beginning duties as the administrator, from or endorsed by a department-recognized national accreditation health or personal care organization such as:

     (A) The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, or

     (B) The American Health Care Association, or

     (C) The Assisted Living Federation of America, or

     (D) The National Association of Board of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators.

     (ii) Has one year paid experience:

     (A) Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or

     (B) Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living.

     (iii) Has completed a qualifying administrator training program supervised by a qualified administrator according to WAC 388-78A-0530.

     (f) Prior to assuming duties as an administrator, the individual has five years of paid experience:

     (i) Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or

     (ii) Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0530   Qualifying administrator training program.   Before the licensee appoints an individual who must have completed a qualifying administrator training program in order to qualify as a boarding home administrator, the licensee must verify the individual has completed the training and obtain documentation from the individual that the training program met the following requirements:

     (1) The department was notified of the beginning date of the administrator training program;

     (2) The administrator training program was at least six months in duration following notification of the department;

     (3) Only training, supervision, and experience occurring following notification of the department were credited to the qualifying training;

     (4) The supervising administrator met the qualifications to be an administrator specified in WAC 388-78A-0520;

     (5) The trainee was a full-time employee of a boarding home and spent at least forty percent of his/her time for six months of the training program performing administrative duties customarily assigned to boarding home administrators or included in the job description of the administrator for the boarding home in which the training occurred;

     (6) The supervising administrator was present on site at the boarding home during the time the trainee performed administrator duties;

     (7) The supervising administrator spent a minimum of one hundred direct contact hours with the trainee during the six months supervising and consulting with the trainee;

     (8) Both the trainee and supervising administrator signed documentation of the trainee's qualifying experience and the supervising administrator's performance of required oversight duties; and

     (9) The individual completing the qualifying administrator training program maintains the documentation of completing the program.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0540   Administrator training requirements.   The licensee must ensure the boarding home administrator:

     (1) Meets the training requirements of chapter 388-112 WAC; and

     (2) Completes department training of Washington state statutes and administrative rules related to the operation of a boarding home.

     (a) The training must include, but is not limited to, an overview of:

     (i) Chapter 18.20 RCW, Boarding homes;

     (ii) Chapter 43.43 RCW, Criminal history background checks;

     (iii) Chapter 74.34 RCW, Abuse of vulnerable adults;

     (iv) Chapter 70.129 RCW, Long-term care resident rights;

     (v) Chapter 388-78A WAC; and

     (vi) Chapter 388-112 WAC, Long-term care services training.

     (b) The introduction to the training must be completed within two weeks of assuming duties as a boarding home administrator.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0550   Administrator training documentation.   The boarding home must maintain for department review, documentation of the administrator completing:

     (1) Training required per chapter 388-112 WAC, Long-term care services training;

     (2) Department training in an overview of Washington state statutes and administrative rules related to the operation of a boarding home;

     (3) As applicable, certification from a department-recognized national accreditation health or personal care organization; and

     (4) As applicable, the qualifying administrator-training program.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0560   Administrator responsibilities.   The licensee must ensure the administrator:

     (1) Adequately directs and supervises the overall twenty-four-hour-per-day operation of the boarding home;

     (2) Ensures residents receive adequate care and services that meet the standards of this chapter;

     (3) Is readily accessible to meet with residents;

     (4) Complies with the boarding home's policies;

     (5) When the administrator is not available on the premises, either:

     (a) Is available by telephone or electronic pager, or

     (b) Designates a person approved by the licensee to act in place of the administrator. The designee must be:

     (i) Qualified by experience to assume designated duties, and

     (ii) Authorized to make decisions and direct operations of the boarding home that are necessary during the administrator's absence.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0570   Notification of change in administrator.   The licensee must notify the department in writing within ten calendar days of the effective date of a change in the boarding home administrator. The notice must include the full name of the new administrator and the effective date of the change.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0580   Use of home health/home care.   If a boarding home licensee also has a home health or home care license, the licensee may not provide care or services to nonresident individuals living in independent living units on the boarding home premises under the home health or home care license if:

     (1) The licensee assumes general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the individual;

     (2) The individual requiring such services is not able to receive them in his or her own home and is required to move to another room as a condition for receiving such services;

     (3) The individual receiving such services is required to receive them from the licensee as a condition for residing in the building, and is not free to receive such services from any appropriately licensed provider of his or her choice; or

     (4) The licensee provides other care or services to the individual, that falls under the jurisdiction of boarding home licensing and this chapter.

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MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0590   Management agreements.   (1) If the licensee uses a manager, the licensee must have a written management agreement approved by the department that is consistent with this section.

     (2) The licensee may enter into a management agreement only if the management agreement creates a principal/agent relationship between the licensee and the manager.

     (3) The licensee must ensure the manager acts in conformance with a department-approved management agreement with the boarding home licensee.

     (4) A licensee must not delegate the following to a manager:

     (a) The licensee's responsibility to ensure that the boarding home is operated in a manner consistent with all laws and rules applicable to boarding homes;

     (b) The licensee's responsibility to review, acknowledge and sign all boarding home initial and renewal license applications.

     (5) The licensee must ensure that its manager does not represent itself as, or give the appearance that it is the licensee.

     (6) A duly authorized manager may execute resident leases or agreements on behalf of the licensee, but all such resident leases or agreements must be between the licensee and the resident.

     (7) The licensee must notify the department of its use of a manager and provide a copy of any written management agreement to the department upon the following:

     (a) Initial application for a license;

     (b) Retention of a manager following initial application;

     (c) Change of managers; or

     (d) Modification of existing management agreement.

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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0600   Policies and procedures.   (1) The boarding home must develop and implement policies and procedures necessary to:

     (a) Maintain or enhance the quality of life for residents;

     (b) Provide the necessary care and services for residents, including those with special needs; and

     (c) Safely operate the boarding home.

     (2) The boarding home must develop, implement and train staff persons on policies and procedures to address what staff persons must do:

     (a) When there is reason to believe a resident is not capable of making necessary decisions and no substitute decision-maker is available;

     (b) When a substitute decision-maker is no longer appropriate because:

     (i) The resident's condition has changed; or

     (ii) The substitute decision-maker is not acting according to chapters 7.70, 11.88, 11.92, 11.94, or 70.122 RCW, or other applicable statutes or rules.

     (c) When a resident stops breathing or a resident's heart appears to stop beating, including the action staff persons must take:

     (i) Related to cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR);

     (ii) Related to calling 911;

     (iii) When a resident has documents related to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) No CPR Guidelines consistent with chapter 43.70 RCW and chapter 246-976 WAC;

     (iv) To provide EMS personnel with a copy of the resident's advance directive when the resident has executed an advance directive;

     (v) When a resident has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order/ directive from a health professional;

     (vi) When a resident has a full code directive;

     (vii) When a resident has not made known his or her decision or preferences about CPR;

     (viii) When a resident is incompetent and not able to make a decision about CPR; and

     (ix) When a resident is in a hospice program.

     (d) When a resident does not have a personal physician or health care provider;

     (e) In response to medical emergencies;

     (f) When there are urgent situations in the boarding home requiring additional staff support;

     (g) In the event of an internal or external disaster, consistent with WAC 388-78A-0680;

     (h) To supervise and monitor residents, including accounting for residents who leave the premises;

     (i) To appropriately respond to aggressive or assaultive residents, including but not limited to:

     (i) Actions to take if a resident becomes violent,

     (ii) Actions to take to protect other residents, and

     (iii) When and how to seek outside intervention.

     (j) To prevent and limit the spread of infections consistent with WAC 388-78A-0610;

     (k) To manage residents' medications, consistent with WAC 388-78A-0180 through 388-78A-0260, including:

     (i) How medications will be ordered and brought into the boarding home;

     (ii) Actions to take if a resident's medications are not available;

     (iii) Recording and documenting prescriber's orders;

     (iv) Providing and documenting medication assistance;

     (v) Providing and documenting medication administration, if this service is provided in the boarding home;

     (vi) Sending medications with a resident when the resident leaves the premises;

     (vii) Safe and secure storage of medications;

     (viii) Inventory of schedule II and III drugs;

     (ix) Disposing of discontinued and/or outdated medications;

     (x) Use of medication organizers; and

     (xi) Actions to take when a resident chooses not to take prescribed medications.

     (l) When services related to medications and treatments are provided under the delegation of registered nurse consistent with chapter 246-840 WAC;

     (m) Related to food services consistent with chapter 246-215 WAC, including:

     (i) Food service sanitation,

     (ii) Procuring and storing food,

     (iii) Food preparation, and

     (iv) Modified diets and nutritional supplements.

     (n) Regarding the safe operation of any boarding home vehicles used to transport residents, and the qualifications of the drivers.

     (3) The boarding home must make the policies and procedures specified in subsection (2) of this section available to staff persons at all times and residents and residents' representatives upon request.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0605   Pets.   If a boarding home allows pets to live on the premises, the boarding home must:

     (1) Develop, implement and disclose to potential and current residents, policies regarding:

     (a) The types of pets that are permitted in the boarding home, and

     (b) The conditions under which pets may be in the boarding home.

     (2) Ensure animals living on the boarding home premises:

     (a) Have regular examinations and immunizations, appropriate for the species, by a veterinarian licensed in Washington state;

     (b) Are certified by a veterinarian to be free of diseases transmittable to humans;

     (c) Are restricted from central food preparation areas.

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INFECTION CONTROL
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0610   Infection control.   (1) The boarding home must institute appropriate infection control practices in the boarding home to prevent and limit the spread of infections.

     (2) The boarding home must:

     (a) Develop and implement a system to identify and manage infections;

     (b) Restrict a staff person's contact with residents when the staff person has a known communicable disease in the infectious stage that is likely to be spread in the boarding home setting or by casual contact;

     (c) Provide staff persons with the necessary supplies, equipment and protective clothing for preventing and controlling the spread of infections;

     (d) Provide all resident care and services according to current acceptable standards for infection control;

     (e) Perform all housekeeping, cleaning, laundry, and management of infectious waste according to current acceptable standards for infection control;

     (f) Report communicable diseases in accordance with the requirements in chapter 246-100 WAC.

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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0620   Reporting abuse and neglect.   (1) The boarding home must ensure that each staff person:

     (a) Makes a report to the department consistent with chapter 74.34 RCW in all cases where the staff person has reasonable cause to believe that abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred; and

     (b) Makes an immediate report to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the department consistent with chapter 74.34 RCW of all incidents of suspected sexual abuse or physical abuse of a resident.

     (2) The boarding home must prominently post so it is readily visible to staff, residents and visitors, the department's toll-free telephone number for reporting resident abuse and neglect.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0630   Reporting significant change in a resident's condition.   (1) The boarding home must consult with the resident's representative, the resident's physician, and other individual(s) designated by the resident as soon as possible whenever:

     (a) There is a significant change in the resident's condition;

     (b) The resident is relocated to a hospital or other health care facility; or

     (c) The resident dies.

     (2) The boarding home must notify any agency responsible for paying for the resident's care and services as soon as possible whenever:

     (a) The resident is relocated to a hospital or other health care facility; or

     (b) The resident dies.

     (3) Whenever the conditions in subsections (1) or (2) of this section occur, the boarding home must document in the resident's records:

     (a) The date and time each individual was contacted; and

     (b) The individual's relationship to the resident.

     (4) In case of a resident's death, the boarding home must notify the coroner if required by RCW 68.50.010.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0635   Reporting fires and incidents.   The boarding home must immediately report to the department's aging and disability services administration:

     (1) Any accidental or unintended fire, or any deliberately set but improper fire, such as arson, in the boarding home;

     (2) Any unusual incident that could or did require implementation of the boarding home's disaster plan, including any evacuation of all or part of the residents to another area of the boarding home or to another address; and

     (3) Circumstances which threaten the boarding home's ability to ensure continuation of services to residents.

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RESIDENT RIGHTS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0640   Resident rights.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Comply with chapter 70.129 RCW, Long-term care residents rights;

     (2) Ensure all staff persons are knowledgeable of the requirements of chapter 70.129 RCW and provide care and services to each resident consistent with chapter 70.129 RCW;

     (3) Not use restraints on any resident;

     (4) Promote and protect the residents' exercise of all rights granted under chapter 70.129;

     (5) Provide care and services to each resident in compliance with applicable state statutes related to substitute health care decision-making, including chapters 7.70, 70.122, 11.88, 11.92, and 11.94 RCW; and

     (6) Reasonably accommodate residents consistent with applicable state and/or federal law.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0650   Services by resident for boarding home.   If a resident performs services for the boarding home, the boarding home must ensure:

     (1) The resident freely volunteers to perform the services without coercion or pressure from staff persons;

     (2) Resident-care staff persons provide on-site supervision of the resident's performance of any services;

     (3) The resident performing services does not supervise, or is not placed in charge of, other residents; and

     (4) If the resident regularly performs voluntary services for the benefit of the boarding home, the volunteer activity is addressed in the resident's negotiated service agreement.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0660   Boarding home use of audio and video monitoring.   (1) Except as provided for in WAC 388-78A-0670, the boarding home must not use:

     (a) Any audio monitoring on the boarding home premises; or

     (b) Any audio monitoring used in combination with video monitoring.

     (2) The boarding home may video monitor and/or video record activity on the boarding home premises, without an audio component, only in the following areas:

     (a) Boarding home entrances and exits if the camera(s) is:

     (i) Focused only on the entrance/exit doorways, and

     (ii) Not focused on areas where residents may congregate.

     (b) Areas used exclusively by staff persons such as, but not limited to, medication storage areas or food preparation areas, if residents do not go into these areas;

     (c) Outdoor areas not commonly used by residents, such as, but not limited to, delivery areas; and

     (d) Designated smoking areas excluding resident rooms, subject to the following conditions:

     (i) When the area is being used by residents assessed as needing supervision for smoking, a staff person must watch the video monitor at any time the area is being used by such residents for smoking;

     (ii) The video camera must be placed in a clearly visible area;

     (iii) The video monitor must be placed where it cannot be viewed by the general public; and

     (iv) All residents in the facility must be notified of the use of the video monitoring.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0670   Resident use of electronic monitoring.   (1) The boarding home must limit the use of resident-initiated video or audio monitoring to the sleeping room or apartment of the resident who requested the monitoring.

     (2) If a resident requests video or audio monitoring in his/her sleeping room or apartment, before any monitoring occurs the boarding home must ensure:

     (a) Appropriate actions are taken to ensure monitoring is consistent with and does not violate chapter 9.73 RCW;

     (b) The resident has identified a threat to his or her safety or health, or the safety of his or her possessions, and has requested electronic monitoring;

     (c) The resident's roommate has provided written consent to the monitoring, if the resident has a roommate; and

     (d) The resident and the boarding home have agreed upon a specific duration for the use of the monitoring, and the boarding home has documented the agreement.

     (3) The boarding home must re-evaluate the need for resident-initiated electronic monitoring with the resident at least quarterly or more often as appropriate.

     (4) The boarding home must discontinue the use of resident-initiated electronic monitoring immediately if:

     (a) The resident no longer desires it,

     (b) The roommate objects to the use, or

     (c) The resident becomes unable to give consent.

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SAFETY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0680   Safety measures and disaster preparedness.   (1) The boarding home must take necessary action to promote the safety of each resident whenever the resident is on the boarding home premises or under the supervision of staff persons, consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement.

     (2) The boarding home must:

     (a) Maintain the premises free of hazards;

     (b) Maintain any vehicles used for transporting residents in a safe condition;

     (c) Investigate and document investigative actions and findings for any alleged or suspected neglect or abuse or exploitation, accident or incident jeopardizing or affecting a resident's health or life. The boarding home must:

     (i) Determine the circumstances of the event;

     (ii) Institute and document appropriate measures to prevent similar future situations if the alleged incident is substantiated; and

     (iii) Protect other residents during the course of the investigation.

     (d) Provide appropriate hardware on doors of storage rooms, closets and other rooms to prevent residents from being accidentally locked in;

     (e) Provide, and advise staff persons of, a means of emergency access to resident-occupied bedrooms, toilet rooms, bathing rooms, and other rooms;

     (f) Provide emergency lighting or flashlights in all areas of the boarding home. For all boarding homes first issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004 the boarding home must provide emergency lighting in all areas of the boarding home;

     (g) Make sure first-aid supplies are:

     (i) Readily available and not locked;

     (ii) Clearly marked;

     (iii) Able to be moved to the location where needed; and

     (iv) Stored in containers that protect them from damage, deterioration, or contamination.

     (h) Make sure first-aid supplies are appropriate for:

     (i) The size of the boarding home,

     (ii) The services provided,

     (iii) The residents served, and

     (iv) The response time of emergency medical services.

     (i) Develop and maintain a current disaster plan describing measures to take in the event of internal or external disasters, including but not limited to:

     (i) On-duty staff persons' responsibilities;

     (ii) Provisions for summoning emergency assistance;

     (iii) Plans for evacuating residents from area or building;

     (iv) Alternative resident accommodations;

     (v) Provisions for essential resident needs, supplies and equipment including water, food, and medications; and

     (vi) Emergency communication plan.

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DISCLOSURE
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0690   Disclosure of services.   (1) The boarding home must disclose to the public the information required on the department's approved disclosure forms available from the department.

     (2) The boarding home must provide services in the boarding home consistent with the information the boarding home disclosed to the public on the department's approved disclosure forms.

     (3) The boarding home must notify potential residents of their rights regarding health care decision making consistent with applicable state and federal laws and rules, before or at the time the individual moves into the boarding home.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0700   Timing of disclosure.   (1) The boarding home must disclose the information regarding the operation of the boarding home:

     (a) In response to a request by a prospective resident or his or her representative for written information about the boarding home's services and capabilities; or

     (b) If no such request for written information was previously made by the resident or his or her representative, at the time the boarding home provides an application for residency at the boarding home and with any admission agreements or contracts, if not previously received by the prospective resident.

     (2) The boarding home is not required to provide the detailed disclosure of services contained on the department's approved disclosure forms:

     (a) In advertisements;

     (b) In general marketing information to the public; or

     (c) To persons seeking general information regarding residential care resources in the community.

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LICENSING
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0710   Licensee qualifications.   The department must consider separately and jointly as applicants each person named in the application for a boarding home license.

     (1) If the department finds any person unqualified as specified in WAC 388-78A-1190, the department must deny, terminate, or not renew the license.

     (2) If the department finds any person unqualified as specified in WAC 388-78A-1160, the department may deny, terminate, or not renew the license.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0720   Necessary information.   In making a determination whether to issue a boarding home license, the department may review the following information for each person named in the application:

     (1) Information in the application; and

     (2) Other documents and information the department deems relevant, including inspection and complaint investigation findings for each facility with which the applicant or any partner, officer, director, managerial employee, or owner of five percent or more of the entity applicant has been affiliated.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0730   Application process.   To apply for a boarding home license, a person must:

     (1) Submit to the department a complete license application on forms designated by the department at least ninety days prior to the proposed effective date of the license;

     (2) Submit all relevant attachments specified in the application;

     (3) Submit criminal history background requests as required in WAC 388-78A-0470;

     (4) Sign the application;

     (5) Submit the license fee as specified in WAC 388-78A-1240;

     (6) Submit verification that construction plans have been approved by construction review services;

     (7) Submit a revised application before the license is issued if any information has changed since the initial license application was submitted;

     (8) Submit a revised application containing current information about the proposed licensee or any other persons or entities named in the application, if a license application is pending for more than one year; and

     (9) If the licensee's agent prepares an application on the licensee's behalf, the licensee must review, sign and attest to the accuracy of the information contained in the application.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0740   Requirements to change boarding home licensee.   In order to change the licensee of a boarding home, the licensee must:

     (1) Ensure the person who wants to become the new licensee:

     (a) Submits a completed license application on forms designated by the department, at least ninety days prior to the proposed effective date of a change in the licensee;

     (b) Signs the application;

     (c) Submits the annual license fee, if a licensing fee is due;

     (d) Submits evidence of control of the real estate on which the boarding home is located, such as a purchase and sales agreement, lease contract, or other appropriate document;

     (e) Submits a revised application if any information included on the original application is no longer accurate; and

     (f) Completes and submits a revised application if requested by the department.

     (2) Notify the department and all residents of the proposed change in licensee at least sixty days prior to the proposed date of transfer, including the following information;

     (a) Name of the present licensee and prospective licensee;

     (b) Name and address of the boarding home being transferred;

     (c) Date of proposed transfer; and

     (d) If the boarding home contracts with the department or other public agencies that may make payments for residential care on behalf of residents, the anticipated effect the change of licensee will have on residents whose care and services are supported through these contracts.

     (3) Send a letter to the department stating the licensee's intent to relinquish the boarding home license on the effective date of change in licensee.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0750   Annual renewal.   To renew a boarding home license, the boarding home must:

     (1) Submit a completed license renewal application on forms designated by the department, at least thirty days prior to the license expiration date;

     (2) Sign the application;

     (3) Submit the annual renewal license fee as specified in WAC 388-78A-1240; and

     (4) If the licensee's agent prepares a renewal application on the licensee's behalf, the licensee must review, sign and attest to the accuracy of the information contained on the renewal application.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0760   Licensee's responsibilities.   (1) The boarding home licensee is responsible for:

     (a) The operation of the boarding home;

     (b) Complying with the requirements of this chapter, chapter 18.20 RCW, and other applicable laws and rules; and

     (c) The care and services provided to the boarding home residents.

     (2) The licensee must:

     (a) Maintain the occupancy level at or below the licensed resident bed capacity of the boarding home;

     (b) Maintain and post in a size and format that is easily read, in a conspicuous place on the boarding home premises:

     (i) A current boarding home license, including any related conditions on the license;

     (ii) The name, address and telephone number of:

     (A) The department,

     (B) Appropriate resident advocacy groups, and

     (C) State and local long-term care ombudsman with a brief description of ombudsman services.

     (iii) A copy of the report and plan of correction of the most recent full inspection conducted by the department.

     (c) Ensure any party responsible for holding or managing residents' personal funds is bonded, or obtains insurance in sufficient amounts, to specifically cover losses of resident funds; and provides proof of bond or insurance to the department.

     (3) The licensee must not delegate to any person responsibilities that are so extensive that the licensee is relieved of responsibility for the daily operations and provisions of services in the boarding home.

     (4) The licensee must act in accord with any department-approved management agreement, if the licensee has entered into a management agreement.

     (5) The licensee must appoint the boarding home administrator consistent with WAC 388-78A-0520.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0770   Change in licensee.   (1) The licensee of a boarding home must change whenever the following events occur, including, but not limited to:

     (a) The licensee's form of legal organization is changed (e.g., a sole proprietor forms a partnership or corporation);

     (b) The licensee transfers ownership of the boarding home business enterprise to another party regardless of whether ownership of some or all of the real property and/or personal property assets of the boarding home is also transferred;

     (c) The licensee dissolves, or consolidates or merges with another legal organization and the licensee's legal organization does not survive;

     (d) If, during any continuous twenty-four-month period, fifty percent or more of the "licensed entity" is transferred, whether by a single transaction or multiple transactions, to:

     (i) A different party (e.g., new or former shareholders), or

     (ii) A person that had less than a five percent ownership interest in the boarding home at the time of the first transaction.

     (e) Any other event or combination of events that results in a substitution, elimination, or withdrawal of the licensee's control of the boarding home. "Control" as used in this section means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management, operation and/or policies of the licensee or boarding home, whether through ownership, voting control, by agreement, by contract or otherwise.

     (2) The licensee is not required to change when the following, without more, occur:

     (a) The licensee contracts with a party to manage the boarding home enterprise for the licensee pursuant to an agreement as specified in WAC 388-78A-0590; or

     (b) The real property or personal property assets of the boarding home are sold or leased, or a lease of the real property or personal property assets is terminated, as long as there is not a substitution or substitution of control of the licensee or boarding home.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0780   Changes in licensed bed capacity.   To change the licensed bed capacity in a boarding home, the boarding home must:

     (1) Submit a completed request for approval to the department at least thirty days before the intended change;

     (2) Submit the prorated fee required according to WAC 388-78A-1240; and

     (3) Obtain an amended license indicating the new bed capacity.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0790   Criteria for increasing licensed bed capacity.   Before the licensed bed capacity in a boarding home may be increased, the boarding home must:

     (1) Obtain construction review services' review and approval of the additional rooms or beds, and related auxiliary spaces, if not previously reviewed and approved; and

     (2) Ensure the increased licensed bed capacity does not exceed the maximum facility capacity as determined by the department.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0800   Building requirements and exemptions.   (1) To get a building approved for licensing, a person must:

     (a) Design plans according to the building code, local codes and ordinances, and this chapter;

     (b) Submit construction documents, including any change orders and addenda to:

     (i) Construction review services per WAC 388-78A-0830, and

     (ii) Local county or municipal building departments per local codes to obtain necessary building permits.

     (c) Conform to the approved construction documents during construction in accordance with chapter 18.20 RCW;

     (d) Obtain written approval from construction review services prior to deviating from approved construction documents;

     (e) Provide construction review services with a:

     (i) Written notice of completion date,

     (ii) Copy of reduced floor plan(s), and

     (iii) Copy of certificate of occupancy issued by the local building department.

     (f) Obtain authorization from department prior to providing domiciliary care in the new construction area.

     (2) The department may exempt the boarding home from meeting a specific requirement related to the physical environment if the department determines the exemption will not:

     (a) Jeopardize the health or safety of residents;

     (b) Adversely affect the residents' quality of life; or

     (c) Change the fundamental nature of the boarding home operation into something other than a boarding home.

     (3) A boarding home wishing to request an exemption must submit a written request to the department, including:

     (a) A description of the requested exemption; and

     (b) The specific WAC requirement for which the exemption is sought.

     (4) The boarding home may not appeal the department's denial or a request for an exemption.

     (5) The boarding home must retain a copy of each approved exemption in the boarding home.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0810   Conversion of licensed nursing homes.   (1) If a person intends to convert a licensed nursing home building into a licensed boarding home, the building must meet all boarding home licensing requirements specified in this chapter and chapter 18.20 RCW unless the licensee has a contract with the department to provide enhanced adult residential care services in the boarding home per RCW 18.20.220.

     (2) If the licensee provides contracted Enhanced Adult Residential Care services in the building converted from a licensed nursing home into a licensed boarding home, the boarding home licensing requirements for the physical structure are considered to be met if the most recent nursing home inspection report for the nursing home building demonstrates compliance, and compliance is maintained, with safety standards and fire regulations:

     (a) As required by RCW 18.51.140; and

     (b) Specified in the applicable building code, as required by RCW 18.51.145, including any waivers that may have been granted, except that the licensee must ensure the building meets the licensed boarding home standards, or their functional equivalency, for:

     (i) Resident to bathing fixture ratio required per WAC 388-78A-1010,

     (ii) Resident to toilet ratio required per WAC 388-78A-1010,

     (iii) Corridor call system required per WAC 388-78A-0910,

     (iv) Resident room door closures, and

     (v) Resident room windows required per WAC 388-78A-0990.

     (3) If the licensee does not continue to provide contracted enhanced adult residential care services in the boarding home converted from a licensed nursing home, the licensee must meet all boarding home licensing requirements specified in this chapter and chapter 18.20 RCW.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0820   Licenses for multiple buildings.   (1) The licensee may have multiple buildings operating under a single boarding home license if:

     (a) All of the buildings are located on the same property with the same legal description; or

     (b) All of the buildings are located on contiguous properties undivided by:

     (i) Public streets, not including alleyways used primarily for delivery services or parking, or

     (ii) Other land that is not owned and maintained by the owners of the property on which the boarding home is located.

     (2) The licensee must have separate boarding homes licenses for buildings that are not located on the same or contiguous properties.

     (3) Buildings that construction review services reviewed only as an addition to, or a remodel of, an existing boarding home must not have separate boarding home licenses.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0830   Required reviews of building plans.   (1) A person or boarding home must notify construction review services of all planned construction regarding boarding homes prior to beginning work on any of the following:

     (a) A new building or portion thereof to be used as a boarding home;

     (b) An addition of, or modification or alteration to an existing boarding home, including but not limited to, the boarding home's:

     (i) Physical structure;

     (ii) Electrical fixtures or systems;

     (iii) Mechanical equipment or systems;

     (iv) Fire alarm fixtures or systems;

     (v) Fire sprinkler fixtures or systems; and

     (vi) Kitchen or laundry equipment.

     (c) A change in the department approved use of an existing boarding home or portion of a boarding home; and

     (d) An existing building or portion thereof to be converted for use as a boarding home.

     (2) A person or boarding home does not need to notify construction review services of the following:

     (a) Repair or maintenance of equipment, furnishings or fixtures;

     (b) Replacement of equipment, furnishings or fixtures with equivalent equipment, furnishings or fixtures;

     (c) Repair or replacement of damaged construction if the repair or replacement is performed according to construction documents approved by construction review services within eight years preceding the current repair or replacement;

     (d) Painting, wall papering, and carpeting; or

     (e) Cosmetic changes that do not affect resident activities, services, or care and are performed in accordance with the current edition of the building code dealing with interior finishes.

     (3) The boarding home must include in its notification to construction review services, the likely adverse impacts of the construction process on current boarding home residents.

     (4) The boarding home must submit plans to construction review services as directed by construction review services prior to beginning any construction. The plans must provide an analysis of likely adverse impacts on current boarding home residents and plans to eliminate or mitigate such adverse impacts.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0840   Relocation of residents during construction.   (1) Prior to moving residents out of the boarding home during construction, the boarding home must:

     (a) Notify the department at least thirty days prior to the anticipated move date, of the boarding home's plans for relocating residents, including:

     (i) How the residents will be informed of the required move and their options consistent with chapter 70.129 RCW;

     (ii) The location to which the residents will be relocated;

     (iii) The boarding home's plans for providing care and services during the relocation;

     (iv) The boarding home's plans for returning residents to the building; and

     (v) The projected time frame for completing the construction.

     (b) Obtain the department's approval for the relocation plans prior to relocating residents.

     (2) If the boarding home moves out all of the residents from the boarding home without first obtaining the department's approval of the relocation plans, the boarding home is closed for business and the department may revoke the licensee's boarding home license.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0850   Vacant buildings.   Whenever a boarding home moves out all residents and ceases operation for reasons other than construction, as specified in WAC 388-78A-0840, the licensee must relinquish the boarding home license or the department may revoke the boarding home license.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0860   Changing use of rooms.   Prior to using a room for a purpose other than what was approved by construction review services, the boarding home must:

     (1) Notify construction review services:

     (a) In writing,

     (b) Thirty days or more before the intended change in use,

     (c) Describe the current and proposed use of the room, and

     (d) Provide all additional documentation as requested by construction review services.

     (2) Obtain the written approval of construction review services for the new use of the room.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0870   Time frame for approval.   (1) A person or the licensee must:

     (a) Obtain approval by construction review services, of final construction documents prior to starting any construction, except for fire alarm plans, fire sprinkler plans, and landscaping plans.

     (b) Obtain approval by construction review services, of landscaping, fire alarm and fire sprinkler plans prior to their installation.

     (2) The department will not issue a boarding home license unless construction review services:

     (a) Notifies the department that construction has been completed;

     (b) Provides the department:

     (i) A copy of the certificate of occupancy granted by the local building official;

     (ii) A copy of the Functional Program; and

     (iii) A reduced copy of the approved floor plan indicating room numbers or names and the approved use.

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BUILDING
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0880   Retention of approved construction documents.   The boarding home must retain on the boarding home premises:

     (1) Specification data on materials used in construction, for the life of the product;

     (2) Stamped "approved" set of construction documents.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0890   Applicable building codes.   (1) Newly licensed boarding homes and construction in existing boarding homes must meet all the current building codes and this chapter.

     (2) Existing licensed boarding homes must continue to meet the building codes in force at the time of their initial licensing.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0900   Area for nursing supplies and equipment.   (1) If the boarding home provides nursing services, the boarding home must provide on the boarding home premises for the safe and sanitary:

     (a) Storage and handling of clean and sterile nursing equipment and supplies; and

     (b) Cleaning and disinfecting of soiled nursing equipment.

     (2) For all boarding homes first issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004 in which nursing services are provided, or upon initiating nursing services within an existing boarding home, the boarding home must provide the following two separate rooms in each boarding home building, accessible only by staff persons:

     (a) A "clean" utility room for the purposes of storing and preparing clean and sterile nursing supplies, equipped with:

     (i) A work counter or table;

     (ii) Hand washing sink, with soap and paper towels or other approved hand-drying device; and

     (iii) Locked medication storage, if medications are stored in this area, that is separate from all other stored items consistent with WAC 388-78A-0230.

     (b) A "soiled" utility room for the purposes of storing soiled linen, cleaning and disinfecting soiled nursing care equipment, and disposing of refuse and infectious waste, equipped with:

     (i) A work counter or table;

     (ii) A two-compartment sink for hand washing and equipment cleaning and sanitizing;

     (iii) A clinical service sink or equivalent for rinsing and disposing of waste material;

     (iv) Soap and paper towels or other approved hand-drying device; and

     (v) Locked storage for cleaning supplies, if stored in the area.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0910   Communication system.   (1) The licensee must ensure the boarding home:

     (a) Provides residents and staff with the means to summon on-duty staff assistance from:

     (i) Resident units;

     (ii) Common areas accessible to residents;

     (iii) Corridors accessible to residents; and

     (iv) All bathrooms and all toilet rooms in boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004.

     (b) Provides residents, families, and other visitors with the means to contact staff inside the building from outside the building after hours.

     (2) The boarding home must provide one or more nonpay telephones:

     (a) In each building located for ready access by staff; and

     (b) On the premises for reasonable access and privacy by residents.

     (3) In boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004, the boarding home must equip each resident room with:

     (a) An intercom system with a mechanism that allows a resident to control:

     (i) Whether or not announcements are broadcast into the resident's room, and

     (ii) Whether or not voices or conversations within the resident's room can be monitored or listened to by persons outside the resident's room.

     (b) Two telephone lines that are compatible with:

     (i) Telecommunication devices for the deaf equipment, and

     (ii) Telephones that have:

     (A) Visual signals for ringing, and

     (B) Voice amplification.

     (c) Television cable access where available in the community.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0920   Two-way intercom systems.   The boarding home may use a two-way intercom system between staff persons and residents in other rooms only when:

     (1) A resident initiates the contact; or

     (2) Staff persons announce to the resident that the intercom has been activated at the time it is activated, and:

     (a) The resident and any others in the room agree to continue the contact,

     (b) A visible signal is activated in the resident's room at all times the intercom is in operation, and

     (c) The boarding home deactivates the intercom when the conversation is complete.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0930   Water supply.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Provide water meeting the provisions of chapter 246-290 WAC, Group A public water supplies or 246-291 WAC, Group B public water systems;

     (2) Maintain the boarding home water systems free of cross-connections as specified in Cross-Connection Control Manual, 6th Edition, published by the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association;

     (3) Provide hot and cold water under adequate pressure readily available throughout the boarding home;

     (4) Provide all sinks and bathing fixtures used by residents with hot water between 105 and 120° F at all times;

     (5) Label or color code nonpotable water supplies "unsafe for domestic use"; and

     (6) Meet laundry and dishwashing water temperature requirements consistent with WAC 388-78A-1020 and 388-78A-0270.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0940   Sewage and liquid waste disposal.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Ensure all sewage and waste water drain into a municipal sewage disposal system in accordance with chapter 246-271 WAC, if available; or

     (2) Provide on-site sewage disposal systems designed, constructed, and maintained as required by chapter 246-272 and 173-240 WAC, and local ordinances; and

     (3) Provide a grease interceptor when the boarding home has an on-site commercial kitchen or septic system in accordance with chapter 246-272 WAC.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0950   Garbage and refuse disposal.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Provide an adequate number of garbage containers to store refuse generated by the boarding home:

     (a) Located in a storage area convenient for resident and staff use;

     (b) Constructed of nonabsorbent material;

     (c) Cleaned and maintained to prevent:

     (i) Entrance of insects, rodents, birds, or other pests;

     (ii) Odors; and

     (iii) Other nuisances.

     (2) Assure garbage and waste containers are emptied frequently to prevent hazards and nuisances; and

     (3) Provide for safe and sanitary collection and disposal of:

     (a) Garbage and refuse,

     (b) Infectious waste, and

     (c) Waste grease from the kitchen.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0960   Lighting.   (1) The boarding home must maintain electric light fixtures and lighting necessary for the comfort and safety of residents and for the activities of residents and staff.

     (2) The boarding home must maintain lighting in common areas that meets Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommendations as follows:


AVERAGE MAINTAINED FOOTCANDLES
Area Ambient Light Task Light
Toilet, bathing and laundry facilities 30 50
Dining/day rooms 50 N/A
Corridors, hallways, and stairways 30 N/A
Janitor's closet and utility rooms 30 N/A
Reading rooms 100 N/A
     (3) The boarding home must provide enough lighting in each resident's room to meet the resident's needs, preferences and choices.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0970   Heating-cooling -- Temperature.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Equip each resident-occupied building with an approved heating system capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 70° F per the building code.

     (2) Equip each resident-occupied building with a mechanical air cooling system or equivalent capable of maintaining a temperature of 75° F in communities where the design dry bulb temperature exceeds 85° F for one hundred seventy-five hours per year or two percent of the time, as specified in the latest edition of "Recommended Outdoor Design Temperatures--Washington State," published by Puget Sound chapter of American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers;

     (3) Equip each boarding home issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004 with a backup source of heat in enough common areas to keep all residents adequately warm during interruptions of normal heating operations;

     (4) Prohibit the use of portable space heaters unless approved in writing by the Washington state director of fire protection; and

     (5) Equip each resident sleeping room and resident living room in boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004 with individual temperature controls located between thirty and forty-eight inches above the floor capable of maintaining room temperature plus or minus 3° F from setting, within a range of minimum 60° to maximum 85° F.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0980   Ventilation.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Ventilate rooms to:

     (a) Prevent excessive odors or moisture, and

     (b) Remove smoke.

     (2) Designate and ventilate smoking areas, if smoking is permitted in the boarding home, to prevent air contamination throughout the boarding home;

     (3) Provide intact sixteen mesh screens on operable windows and openings used for ventilation; and

     (4) Prohibit screens that may restrict or hinder escape or rescue through emergency exit openings.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-0990   Resident room -- Room furnishings-storage.   (1) The boarding home must ensure each resident has a sleeping room that has:

     (a) Eighty or more square feet of usable floor space in a one-person sleeping room;

     (b) Seventy or more square feet of usable floor space per individual in a sleeping room occupied by two or more individuals, except:

     (i) When a resident sleeping room is located within a private apartment; and

     (ii) The private apartment includes a resident sleeping room, a resident living room, and a private bathroom; and

     (iii) The total square footage in the private apartment equals or exceeds two hundred twenty square feet excluding the bathroom; and

     (iv) There are no more than two residents living in the apartment; and

     (v) Both residents mutually agree to share the resident sleeping room; and

     (vi) All other requirements of this section are met, then the two residents may share a sleeping room with less than one hundred forty square feet.

     (c) A maximum sleeping room occupancy of:

     (i) Four individuals if the boarding home was licensed before July 1, 1989, and licensed continuously thereafter; and

     (ii) Two individuals if the boarding home, after June 30, 1989:

     (A) Applied for initial licensure, or

     (B) Applied to increase the number of resident sleeping rooms, or

     (C) Applied to change the use of rooms into sleeping rooms.

     (d) Unrestricted direct access to a hallway, living room, outside, or other common-use area;

     (e) One or more outside windows with:

     (i) Window sills at or above grade, with grade extending horizontally ten or more feet from the building; and

     (ii) Adjustable curtains, shades, blinds, or equivalent for visual privacy.

     (f) One or more duplex electrical outlets per bed if the boarding home was initially licensed after July 1, 1983;

     (g) A light control switch located by the entrance for a light fixture in the room;

     (h) An individual towel and washcloth rack or equivalent, except when there is a private bathroom attached to the resident sleeping or living room, the individual towel and washcloth rack may be located in the attached private bathroom;

     (i) In all boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004, and when requested by a resident in a boarding home licensed on or prior to September 1, 2004, provide a lockable drawer, cupboard or other secure space measuring at least one-half cubic foot with a minimum dimension of four inches;

     (j) Separate storage facilities for each resident in or immediately adjacent to the resident's sleeping room to adequately store a reasonable quantity of clothing and personal possessions;

     (k) A configuration to permit all beds in the resident sleeping room to be spaced at least three feet from other beds unless otherwise requested by all affected residents.

     (2) The boarding home must ensure each resident sleeping room contains:

     (a) A comfortable bed for each resident, except when two residents mutually agree to share a bed. The bed must be thirty-six or more inches wide for a single resident and fifty-four or more inches wide for two residents, appropriate for size, age and physical condition of the resident and room dimensions, including but not limited to:

     (i) Standard household bed,

     (ii) Studio couch,

     (iii) Hide-a-bed,

     (iv) Day bed, or

     (v) Water bed, if structurally and electrically safe.

     (b) A mattress for each bed which:

     (i) Fits the bed frame,

     (ii) Is in good condition, and

     (iii) Is at least four inches thick unless otherwise requested or necessary for resident health or safety.

     (c) One or more comfortable pillows for each resident;

     (d) Bedding for each bed, in good repair; and

     (e) Lighting at the resident's bedside when requested by the resident.

     (3) The boarding home must not allow a resident sleeping room to be used as a passageway or corridor.

     (4) The boarding home may use or allow use of carpets and other floor coverings only when the carpet is:

     (a) Securely fastened to the floor or provided with nonskid backing; and

     (b) Kept clean and free of hazards, such as curling edges or tattered sections.

     (5) The boarding home must ensure each resident has either a sleeping room or resident living room that contains a sturdy, comfortable chair appropriate for the age and physical condition of the resident. This requirement does not mean a boarding home is responsible for supplying specially designed orthotic or therapeutic chairs, including those with mechanical lifts or adjustments.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1000   Calculating floor space.   Usable floor space in a resident's sleeping room is calculated by measuring from interior wall surface to interior wall surface:

     (1) Including:

     (a) Areas under moveable furniture; and

     (b) Areas of door swings and entry ways into the sleeping room.

     (2) Excluding:

     (a) Areas under ceilings less than seven feet six inches high;

     (b) Closet space and built-in storage;

     (c) Areas under counters, sinks, or appliances; and

     (d) Bathrooms and toilet rooms.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1010   Toilet rooms and bathrooms.   (1) The boarding home must provide private or common-use toilet rooms and bathrooms to meet the needs of each resident.

     (2) The boarding home must provide each toilet room and bathroom with:

     (a) Water resistant, smooth, low gloss, nonslip and easily cleanable materials;

     (b) Washable walls to the height of splash or spray;

     (c) Grab bars installed and located to minimize accidental falls including one or more grab bars at each:

     (i) Bathing fixture, and

     (ii) Toilet.

     (d) Plumbing fixtures designed for easy use and cleaning and kept in good repair; and

     (e) Adequate mechanical ventilation to the outside of the boarding home.

     (3) The boarding home must provide each toilet room with a:

     (a) Toilet with a clean, nonabsorbent seat free of cracks;

     (b) Hand washing sink in or adjacent to the toilet room. For boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004, the hand washing sink must be in the toilet room or in an adjacent private area that is not part of a common use area of the boarding home; and

     (c) Suitable mirror with adequate lighting for general illumination.

     (4) For boarding homes approved for construction or initially licensed after August 1, 1994, the boarding home must provide a toilet and hand washing sink in, or adjoining, each bathroom.

     (5) When providing common-use toilet rooms and bathrooms, the boarding home must provide toilets and hand washing sinks for residents in the ratios of one toilet and one hand washing sink for every eight residents or fraction as listed in the following table:


Number of Residents Number of Toilets* Number of Hand Washing Sinks
1-8 1 1
9-16 2 2
17-24 3 3
25-32 4 4
33-40 5 5
41-48 6 6
49-56 7 7
57-64 8 8
65-72 9 9
73-80 10 10
81-88 11 11
89-96 12 12
97-104 13 13
105-112 14 14
113-120 15 15
121-128 16 16
129-136 17 17
137-144 18 18
145-152 19 19
153-160 20 20
161-168 21 21
169-176 22 22
177-184 23 23

*When two or more toilets are contained in a single bathroom, they are counted as one toilet.

     (6) When providing common-use toilet rooms and bathrooms, the boarding home must provide bathing fixtures for residents in the ratio of one bathing fixture for every twelve residents or fraction thereof as listed in the following table:


Number of Residents Number of Bathing Fixtures
1-12 1
13-24 2
25-36 3
37-48 4
49-60 5
61-72 6
73-84 7
85-96 8
97-108 9
109-120 10
121-132 11
133-144 12
145-160 13
161-172 14
173-184 15
185-196 16

     (7) When providing common-use toilet rooms and bathrooms, the boarding home must:

     (a) Designate toilet rooms containing more than one toilet for use by men or women;

     (b) Designate bathrooms containing more than one bathing fixture for use by men or women;

     (c) Equip each toilet room and bathroom designed for use by, or used by, more than one person at a time, in a manner to ensure visual privacy for each person using the room. The boarding home is not required to provide additional privacy features in private bathrooms with a single toilet and a single bathing fixture located within a private apartment;

     (d) Provide a hand-washing sink with soap and single use or disposable towels, blower or equivalent hand-drying device in each toilet room, except that single use or disposable towels or blowers are not required in toilet rooms or bathrooms that are located within a private apartment;

     (e) Provide reasonable access to bathrooms and toilet rooms for each resident by:

     (i) Locating a toilet room on the same floor or level as the sleeping room of the resident served;

     (ii) Locating a bathroom on the same floor or level, or adjacent floor or level, as the sleeping room of the resident served; and

     (iii) Providing access without passage through any kitchen, pantry, food preparation, food storage, or dishwashing area, or from one bedroom through another bedroom.

     (8) In boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004, the boarding home must ensure fifty percent of all the bathing fixtures in the boarding home are roll-in type showers that have:

     (a) One half inch or less threshold;

     (b) A minimum size of thirty-six inches by forty-eight inches; and

     (c) Single lever faucets located within thirty-six inches of the seat so the faucets are within reach of persons seated in the shower.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1020   Laundry.   (1) The boarding home must provide laundry and linen services on the premises, or by commercial laundry.

     (2) The boarding home must handle, clean, and store linen according to acceptable methods of infection control. The boarding home must:

     (a) Provide separate areas for handling clean laundry and soiled laundry;

     (b) Ensure clean laundry is not processed in, and does not pass through, areas where soiled laundry is handled;

     (c) Ensure areas where clean laundry is stored are not exposed to contamination from other sources; and

     (d) Ensure all staff wears gloves and use other appropriate infection control practices when handling soiled laundry.

     (3) The boarding home must use washing machines that have a continuous supply of hot water with a temperature of 140° F measured at the washing machine intake, or that automatically dispense a chemical sanitizer as specified by the manufacturer, whenever the boarding home washes:

     (a) Boarding home laundry;

     (b) Boarding home laundry combined with residents' laundry into a single load; or

     (c) More than one resident's laundry combined into a single load.

     (4) The boarding home or a resident washing an individual resident's personal laundry, separate from other laundry, may wash the laundry at temperatures below 140° F and without the use of a chemical sanitizer.

     (5) The boarding home must ventilate laundry rooms and areas to the outside of the boarding home, including areas or rooms where soiled laundry is held for processing by off-site commercial laundry services.

     (6) The boarding home must locate laundry equipment in rooms other than those used for open food storage, food preparation or food service.

     (7) For all boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004, the boarding home must provide a laundry area where residents' may do their personal laundry that is:

     (a) Equipped with:

     (i) A utility sink;

     (ii) A table or counter for folding clean laundry;

     (iii) At least one washing machine and one clothes dryer; and

     (iv) Mechanical ventilation to the outside of the boarding home.

     (b) Is arranged to reduce the chances of soiled laundry contaminating clean laundry.

     (8) The boarding home may combine areas for soiled laundry with other areas when consistent with WAC 388-78A-1090.

     (9) The boarding home may combine areas for handling and storing clean laundry with other areas when consistent with WAC 388-78A-1100.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1030   Day rooms.   (1) The boarding home must provide one or more day room areas in which residents may participate in social and recreational activities. Day room areas include, but are not limited to:

     (a) Solariums;

     (b) Enclosed sun porches;

     (c) Recreation rooms;

     (d) Dining rooms; and

     (e) Living rooms.

     (2) The boarding home must provide a total minimum floor space for day room areas of:

     (a) One hundred fifty square feet, or ten square feet per resident, whichever is larger, in boarding homes licensed on or before December 31, 1988; or

     (b) One hundred fifty square feet, or twenty square feet per resident, whichever is larger, in boarding homes licensed after December 31, 1988.    

     (3) The boarding home must provide day room areas with comfortable furniture and furnishings that meet the residents' needs.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1040   Storage space.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Provide adequate storage space for supplies, equipment and linens;

     (2) Provide separate, locked storage for disinfectants and poisonous compounds; and

     (3) Maintain storage space to prevent fire or safety hazards.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1050   Stairs -- Ramps.   The boarding home must maintain nonskid surfaces on all stairways and ramps used by residents.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1060   Guardrails -- Handrails.   (1) The boarding home must install and maintain sturdy handrails according to building code requirements, located:

     (a) In halls and corridors, if necessary for resident safety;

     (b) On each side of interior and exterior stairways with more than one step riser, unless the department approves in writing having a handrail on one side only; and

     (c) On each side of interior and exterior ramps with slopes greater than one to twenty.

     (2) The boarding home must install guardrails if the department determines guardrails are necessary for resident safety.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1070   Maintenance and housekeeping.   (1) The boarding home must:

     (a) Provide a safe, sanitary and well maintained environment for residents;

     (b) Keep exterior grounds, boarding home structure, and component parts safe, sanitary and in good repair;

     (c) Keep facilities, equipment and furnishings clean and in good repair;

     (d) Ensure each resident or staff person maintains the resident's quarters in a safe and sanitary condition; and

     (e) Equip a housekeeping supply area on the premises with:

     (i) A utility sink or equivalent means of obtaining and disposing of mop water, separate from food preparation and service areas;

     (ii) Storage for wet mops, ventilated to the outside of the boarding home; and

     (iii) Locked storage for cleaning supplies.

     (2) For boarding homes issued a project number by Construction Review Services on or after September 1, 2004, the boarding home must provide housekeeping supply room(s):

     (a) Located on each floor of the boarding home;

     (b) In proximity to laundry and kitchen areas; and

     (c) Equipped with:

     (i) A utility sink or equivalent means of obtaining and disposing of mop water, away from food preparation and service areas;

     (ii) Storage for wet mops;

     (iii) Locked storage for cleaning supplies; and

     (iv) Mechanical ventilation to the outside of the boarding home.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1080   Safe storage of supplies and equipment.   The boarding home must secure potentially hazardous supplies and equipment commensurate with the assessed needs of residents and their functional and cognitive abilities. In determining what supplies and equipment may be accessible to residents, the boarding home must consider at a minimum:

     (1) The residents' characteristics and needs;

     (2) The degree of hazardousness or toxicity posed by the supplies or equipment;

     (3) Whether or not the supplies and equipment are commonly found in a private home, such as hand soap or laundry detergent; and

     (4) How residents with special needs are individually protected without unnecessary restrictions on the general population.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1090   Areas for cleaning and storing soiled equipment, supplies and laundry.   (1) The boarding home may combine areas used for storing, handling and cleaning soiled laundry and linens, areas used for cleaning and disinfecting soiled nursing care equipment, areas for disposing of refuse and infectious waste, and/or areas for storing housekeeping and cleaning supplies, into a single area on the premises only when the boarding home equips the area with:

     (a) A two-compartment sink for hand washing and sanitizing;

     (b) A clinical service sink or equivalent for rinsing and disposing of waste material;

     (c) A work counter or table;

     (d) Mechanical ventilation to the outside of the boarding home; and

     (e) Locked storage for cleaning supplies, if stored in the area.

     (2) The boarding home must ensure that any work or function performed in or around a combined utility area as described in subsection (1) of this section is performed without significant risk of contamination to:

     (a) Storing or handling clean or sterile nursing supplies or equipment;

     (b) Storing or handling clean laundry;

     (c) Providing resident care;

     (d) Food storage, preparation, or service; or

     (e) Other operations, services of functions in the boarding home sensitive to infection control practices.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1100   Areas for handling and storing clean supplies and equipment.   The boarding home may combine areas used for handling and storing clean laundry, and areas used for storing, preparing and handling clean and sterile nursing supplies, equipment and medications, into a single area on the premises only when the boarding home:

     (1) Equips the area with:

     (a) A hand washing sink, and

     (b) A work counter or table.

     (2) Ensures that any work or function performed in the area is performed without significant risk of contamination from other sources; and

     (3) Stores medications separate from all other stored items consistent with WAC 388-78A-0230.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1110   Plant restrictions.   The boarding home must not use poisonous or toxic plants in areas of the boarding home premises accessible to residents who, based on their diagnosed condition or cognitive disabilities, may ingest or have harmful contact with such plants.

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INSPECTIONS, ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES, AND APPEALS
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1120   Responsibilities during inspections.   (1) During any on-site inspection or complaint investigation conducted by the department, the licensee must cooperate with the department by providing to authorized representatives of the department:

     (a) All records and information related to the operation of the boarding home that is requested, consistent with RCW 18.20.110;

     (b) Staff personnel records directly related to licensing requirements consistent with WAC 388-78A-0460, including but not limited to:

     (i) Staff hiring and training;

     (ii) Criminal history background checks;

     (iii) Staff job descriptions;

     (iv) Staff schedules as planned and as worked for the past six months;

     (v) TB testing for staff;

     (vi) Verification of contacting work references for newly hired staff; and

     (vii) Verification of professional credentials.

     (c) A current roster of all residents receiving domiciliary care and their roommates and the rooms in which they reside/sleep consistent with WAC 388-78A-0450;

     (d) Facilitated access to:

     (i) The boarding home premises; and

     (ii) The boarding home residents and the rooms in which they reside.

     (2) The licensee must ensure the boarding home administrator or the administrator's designee is available during any inspection or complaint investigation to respond to questions or issues identified by department staff.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1130   Communication during inspections.   (1) To the fullest extent reasonably possible, the department will hold a daily communication meeting with the boarding home during any inspection that lasts more than one day.

     (a) The department is not required to disclose information to boarding homes when doing so would compromise the inspection process or complaint investigation.

     (b) Department staff shall make every effort to schedule such meeting if desired by the licensee. However, failure to hold a daily communication meeting is not grounds for nullifying or voiding any citation, statement of deficiencies, or enforcement remedies imposed by the department.

     (2) The boarding home may designate a staff person to accompany department licensers or complaint investigators during inspections of the boarding home, except that boarding home staff persons may not be present:

     (a) During interviews with residents unless requested by the resident; or

     (b) When their presence may inhibit other staff persons, residents, residents' representatives or family members or others from providing information to department licensers or complaint investigators;

     (c) When their presence may compromise the investigation by department staff of a complaint or licensing issue.

     (3) The department will make every effort to hold an exit conference when the department staff has finished collecting data on site, if such a meeting is desired by the licensee. However, failure to hold an exit conference is not grounds for nullifying or voiding any citation, statement of deficiencies, or enforcement remedies imposed by the department. During the exit conference:

     (a) The department will present to the boarding home the preliminary factual findings representing violations that may be cited on a statement of deficiencies;

     (b) The department will identify the rules that may have been violated:

     (i) Department staff will identify the relevant section(s) of rule that address the potential violations.

     (ii) Department staff is not required to identify the specific subsection of the rule that may be cited in a statement of deficiencies.

     (c) The boarding home should be given an opportunity to:

     (i) Question department staff regarding their findings, and

     (ii) Provide the department additional factual information that may refute the presented facts or affect the determination of a deficiency.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1140   Communication following inspections.   Following an exit conference, if the department obtains additional information that may substantially alter the preliminary conclusions or issues identified during the exit conference, the department will to the fullest extent reasonably possible:

     (1) Notify the boarding home of the additional issues or amended conclusions; and

     (2) Provide the boarding home an opportunity to respond to the additional information:

     (a) By telephone,

     (b) In writing, or

     (c) By facsimile transmission.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1150   Statements of deficiencies and plans of correction.   (1) The department must give the administrator or the administrator's designee a written statement of deficiencies specifying any violations of chapters 18.20 or 70.129 RCW or this chapter that the department found during on-site inspections and complaint investigations.

     (2) The licensee must respond to a statement of deficiencies by submitting to the department within a time acceptable to the department, a signed written plan of correction for each deficiency stated in the report. The licensee must include in the plan of correction, for each cited deficiency:

     (a) A specific plan of what will be or was done to correct the violation,

     (b) A description of what will be done to prevent future violations of this type,

     (c) Who will be responsible for monitoring the corrections to ensure the violations do not recur, and

     (d) The date by which lasting correction will be achieved.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1160   Authorized enforcement remedies.   (1) Whenever the circumstances in WAC 388-78A-1170(1) are present, the department may impose any enforcement remedy authorized by RCW 18.20.185(7) and 18.20.190 on a boarding home, including, without limitation:

     (a) Denying a boarding home license;

     (b) Suspending a boarding home license;

     (c) Revoking a boarding home license;

     (d) Refusing to renew a boarding home license;

     (e) Suspending admissions to a boarding home;

     (f) Suspending admissions to a boarding home of a specific category or categories of residents as related to cited violations;

     (g) Imposing conditions on the boarding home license; and/or

     (h) Imposing civil penalties of not more than one hundred dollars per day per violation per resident.

     (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the department may impose a civil penalty on a boarding home of up to three thousand dollars per day per violation for interference, coercion, discrimination and/or reprisal by a boarding home as set forth in RCW 18.20.185(7).

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1170   Statutory circumstances resulting in discretionary enforcement remedies.   (1) Enforcement remedies described in WAC 388-78A-1160 may be imposed if any person or entity described in subsection (2) of this section is found by the department to have:

     (a) A history of significant noncompliance with federal or state regulations in providing care or services to frail elders, vulnerable adults or children, whether as a licensee, contractor, managerial employee or otherwise. Evidence of significant noncompliance may include, without limitation:

     (i) Citations for violation of regulations imposed by regulating entities;

     (ii) Sanctions for violation of regulations imposed by regulating entities;

     (iii) Involuntary termination, cancellation, suspension, or nonrenewal of a Medicaid contract or Medicare provider agreement, or any other agreement with a public agency for the care or treatment of children, frail elders or vulnerable adults;

     (iv) Being denied a license relating to the care of frail elders, vulnerable adults or children; or

     (v) Relinquishing or failing to renew a license relating to care of frail elders, vulnerable adults or children following written notification of the licensing agency's initiation of denial, suspension, cancellation or revocation of a license.

     (b) Failed to provide appropriate care to frail elders, vulnerable adults or children under a contract, or having such contract terminated or not renewed by the contracting agency due to such failure;

     (c) Been convicted of a felony or a crime against a person if the conviction reasonably relates to the competency of the person to operate a boarding home;

     (d) Failed or refused to comply with the requirements of chapter 18.20 RCW, applicable provisions of chapter 70.129 RCW or this chapter;

     (e) Retaliated against a staff person, resident or other individual for:

     (i) Reporting suspected abuse or other alleged improprieties;

     (ii) Providing information to the department during the course of the department conducting an inspection of the boarding home; or

     (iii) Providing information to the department during the course of the department conducting a complaint investigation in the boarding home.

     (f) Operated a facility for the care of children or adults without a current, valid license or under a defunct or revoked license;

     (g) Been convicted of a crime, knowingly permitted, aided or abetted an illegal act on a boarding home premises, or engaged in the illegal use of drugs or the excessive use of alcohol;

     (h) Abused, neglected or exploited a vulnerable adult or knowingly failed to report alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult as required by chapter 74.34 RCW;

     (i) Failed to exercise fiscal accountability and responsibility involving a resident, the department, public agencies, or the business community; or has insufficient financial resources or unencumbered income to sustain the operation of the boarding home;

     (j) Knowingly or with reason to know, made false statements of material fact in the application for the license or the renewal of the license or any data attached thereto, or in any matter under investigation by the department;

     (k) Interfered with any inspection or investigation by the department or refused to allow department representatives to examine any part of the licensed premises including records required under this chapter;

     (l) Moved all residents out of the boarding home without the department's approval and is no longer operating as a boarding home; or

     (m) Demonstrated any other factors that give evidence the applicant lacks the appropriate character, suitability and competence to provide care or services to vulnerable adults.

     (2) This section applies to any boarding home:

     (a) Applicant;

     (b) Partner, officer or director;

     (c) Manager or managerial employee; or

     (d) Owner of five percent or more of the entity applicant:

     (i) Who is involved in the management or operation of the boarding home;

     (ii) Who may have direct access to boarding home residents;

     (iii) Who controls or supervises the provision of care or services to boarding home residents; or

     (iv) Who exercises control over daily operations of the boarding home.

     (3) For other circumstances resulting in discretionary enforcement remedies, see WAC 388-78A-1200.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1180   Circumstances resulting in required enforcement remedies.   The department must impose an appropriate remedy consistent with RCW 18.20.125 and as otherwise authorized by RCW 18.20.185 or 18.20.190 whenever the department finds a boarding home has:

     (1) A serious problem, a recurring problem, or an uncorrected problem;

     (2) Created a hazard that causes or is likely to cause death or serious harm to one or more residents;

     (3) Discriminated or retaliated in any manner against a resident, employee, or any other person because that person or any other person made a complaint or provided information to the department, the attorney general, a law enforcement agency, or the long-term care ombudsman; or

     (4) Willfully interfered with the performance of official duties by a long-term care ombudsman.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1190   Statutorily required enforcement remedies; denial, suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal of license.   (1) The department must deny, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a boarding home license if any person or entity described in subsection (2) below is:

     (a) Convicted of a crime against a person or a crime related to financial exploitation as defined under RCW 43.43.830 or 43.43.842; or

     (b) Found by a court in a protection proceeding or in a civil damages lawsuit under chapter 74.34 RCW to have abused, neglected, abandoned or exploited a vulnerable adult; or

     (c) Found in any dependency action under chapter 13.34 RCW to have sexually assaulted, neglected, exploited, or physically abused any minor; or

     (d) Found by a court in a domestic relations proceeding under Title 26 RCW to have sexually abused, exploited, or physically abused any minor; or

     (e) Found in any final decision issued by a disciplinary board to have sexually or physically abused or neglected or exploited any minor or any vulnerable adult, or has a stipulated finding of fact, conclusion of law, an agreed order, or finding of fact, conclusion of law, or final order issued by a disciplining authority, a court of law, or entered into a state registry finding him or her guilty of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment of a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in chapter 74.34 RCW.

     (2) This section applies to any boarding home:

     (a) Applicant;

     (b) Partner, officer or director;

     (c) Manager or managerial employee; or

     (d) Owner of five percent or more of the entity applicant:

     (i) Who is involved in the operation of the boarding home, or

     (ii) Who may have direct access to the boarding home residents, or

     (iii) Who controls or supervises the provision of care or services to the boarding home residents, or

     (iv) Who exercises control over daily operations.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1200   Other circumstances resulting in discretionary enforcement remedies.   (1) When the department cites a boarding home for an initial violation that does not represent a recurring problem, serious problem or uncorrected problem, and that results in minimal or moderate harm that is limited in scope, the department may:

     (a) Require a plan of correction from the boarding home;

     (b) Impose conditions on the boarding home license; and/or

     (c) Impose a civil penalty.

     (2) The department may take any of the actions specified in subsection (1) of this section and/or impose a stop-placement or limited stop-placement on a boarding home when:

     (a) There is a reasonable probability, at the time the stop-placement or limited stop-placement is imposed, least a moderate degree of harm will occur or recur as a result of a single problem or by a combination of problems; and

     (b) The threatening problem is more than an isolated event or occurrence.

     (3) The department may take any of the actions specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section and/or summarily suspend a boarding home's license when:

     (a) There is an imminent threat that a serious degree of harm may occur to residents as a result of a single problem or a combination of problems; and

     (b) The threatening problem is more than an isolated event or occurrence.

     (4) The department may take any of the actions specified in subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section and/or revoke a boarding home's license when:

     (a) The department has cause to summarily suspend the boarding home's license;

     (b) There is a current problem with the boarding home and the boarding home has a history of having enforcement remedies imposed by the department;

     (c) There is a current problem with the boarding home and the boarding home has a history of noncompliance representing problems that were at least moderate in nature and moderate in scope;

     (d) The boarding home has moved all residents out of the boarding home without the department's approval and is no longer operating as a boarding home; or

     (e) There is a serious current problem, which may not warrant a summary suspension, with the boarding home that does not have a history of noncompliance. Examples of the types of serious current problems that may warrant license revocation include, but are not limited to:

     (i) The licensee has been found or convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction to have engaged in fraudulent activity, or

     (ii)The licensee is experiencing significant financial problems resulting in poor care or jeopardizing the care and services that can be provided to residents, and possible business failure; or

     (f) The boarding home fails to cooperate with the department during any inspection or complaint investigation.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1210   Informal dispute resolution.   The boarding home has a right to an informal dispute resolution meeting according to department procedure. The boarding home must make a request for an informal dispute resolution meeting in writing within ten days of the receipt of the written notice of deficiency.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1220   Appeal rights.   (1) An applicant or boarding home may contest an enforcement remedy imposed by the department pursuant to RCW 18.20.190 according to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW and chapters 10-08 and 388-02 WAC.

     (2) Orders of the department imposing licensing suspension, stop placement, or conditions for continuation of a license are effective immediately upon notice and shall continue pending any hearing.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-1230   Fees.   The boarding home must:

     (1) Submit an annual license fee of seventy-nine dollars per bed of the licensed resident bed capacity;

     (2) Submit an additional one hundred fifty dollars when billed by the department for:

     (a) A third on-site visit required by the boarding home's failure to adequately correct violations identified in a statement of deficiencies; and

     (b) A full out-of-sequence inspection resulting from information gathered during a complaint investigation.

     (3) Submit an additional late fee in the amount of ten dollars per day from the license renewal date until the date of mailing the fee, as evidenced by the postmark; and

     (4) Submit to construction review services a fee for the review of the construction documents per the review fee schedule that is based on the project cost.

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REPEALER

     The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
WAC 388-78A-010 Definitions.
WAC 388-78A-020 Licensure -- Initial, renewal, day care approval respite care, modifications.
WAC 388-78A-030 Responsibilities and rights -- Licensee and department.
WAC 388-78A-040 Administrator.
WAC 388-78A-045 Criminal history, disclosure, and background inquiries.
WAC 388-78A-050 Staff.
WAC 388-78A-055 Policies and procedures.
WAC 388-78A-060 HIV/AIDS education and training.
WAC 388-78A-070 Construction.
WAC 388-78A-080 Communication system.
WAC 388-78A-090 Water supply.
WAC 388-78A-100 Sewage and liquid waste disposal.
WAC 388-78A-110 Garbage and refuse disposal.
WAC 388-78A-120 Lighting.
WAC 388-78A-130 Heating -- Temperature.
WAC 388-78A-140 Ventilation.
WAC 388-78A-150 Resident room -- Room furnishings -- Storage.
WAC 388-78A-160 Toilet rooms and bathrooms.
WAC 388-78A-170 Food and nutrition services.
WAC 388-78A-180 Day rooms.
WAC 388-78A-190 Laundry.
WAC 388-78A-200 Storage space.
WAC 388-78A-210 Stairs -- Ramps.
WAC 388-78A-220 Guardrails -- Handrails.
WAC 388-78A-230 Maintenance and housekeeping.
WAC 388-78A-240 Criteria for accepting and retaining residents.
WAC 388-78A-250 Resident rights.
WAC 388-78A-260 Resident services.
WAC 388-78A-265 Limited nursing services.
WAC 388-78A-268 Health care services -- Resident-arranged.
WAC 388-78A-280 Notification -- Change in resident's condition.
WAC 388-78A-290 Safety measures and quality assurance.
WAC 388-78A-300 Medication services.
WAC 388-78A-310 Resident register.
WAC 388-78A-320 Resident health record.
WAC 388-78A-330 Adult day care.
WAC 388-78A-335 Residents -- Dementia care.
WAC 388-78A-340 Exemptions.
WAC 388-78A-990 Fees.

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