Adult family homes are community-based facilities licensed to care for individuals who need long-term care. These homes provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, and assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, and nursing services.
Adult family homes are licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (Department) and must meet facility standards, as well as training requirements for resident managers and caregivers. An adult family home must be inspected by the Department at the time of licensure and subsequently every 18 months with an annual average of 15 months. Adult family homes with a history of not receiving inspection citations or complaint investigation violations may operate without an inspection for two years.
Adult family homes may care for up to six persons but may increase their bed capacity to seven or eight beds if they meet additional licensing standards. The number of residents that an adult family home is licensed to care for depends on several factors related to the structure of the house, the number and qualifications of the staff, and the mix of persons living in the home. An adult family home applying for seven- or eight-bed capacity must further demonstrate financial solvency and management experience for the home and the ability to meet relevant safety, health, and operating standards. An adult family home may only apply for seven- or eight-bed capacity if it has met several additional criteria, including having held a license for at least 24 months, having been licensed for six beds for at least 12 months, and having completed two full inspections resulting in no enforcement actions.
An expedited inspection timeframe is established for the requirement that an adult family home applying to increase its bed capacity to seven or eight beds complete two full inspections resulting in no enforcement actions. Under the expedited timeframe, if an adult family home applies to increase its bed capacity to seven or eight beds before January 1, 2026, and has met all other application requirements, the Department of Social and Health Services may complete the first inspection upon receipt of the application and complete a second inspection if at least six months have passed since the first inspection.
The substitute bill corrects a statutory reference.
(In support) The public health emergency made it difficult to take advantage of the bed expansion option for adult family homes which passed in 2020 because it temporarily shut down inspections and resulted in inspection staffing shortages. This bill will prioritize adult family homes that are increasing their number of beds and will expand capacity and ensure safety. Washington has an aging population and adult family homes provide a critical service and adult family homes that are ready to expand should be able to get their beds to serve seniors. Many homes have invested in building additions and fire suppression systems and are ready to expand, but they lack the final inspection and the current rules are delaying that inspection. This bill allows homes that are ready to move forward with expanding capacity to work with DSHS to be recognized.
(Opposed) None.
Representative Tana Senn, prime sponsor; and John Ficker and Amina Adballa, Adult Family Home Council.