Personal care homes and assisted living communities in Georgia have new rules to follow after the signing into law of HB 987.
The law prohibits retaliation against a person “relating to a report that a disabled adult or elder person is in need of protective services or has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.” It also increases the maximum fines for violations by facilities.
The revised regulations increase staff-to-resident ratios, too. Effective July 1, facilities must maintain an average monthly minimum on-site staffing ratio of one direct care staff person for every 15 residents during all waking hours and one direct care staff person for every 20 residents during all non-waking hours “provided, however, that either such ratio is adequate to meet the needs of the residents.”
The updated regulations also require all direct care staff, including the administrator or on-site manager, to complete at least 16 hours of continuing education each year.
Additionally, licensure requires the operator to provide a certified financial stability affidavit to the Georgia Department of Community Health “affirming the applicant’s ability to operate as a going concern for the next two years.” Operators must provide at least 60 days’ notice of bankruptcy or property eviction to the DCH and residents and 14 days’ notice of “any impending change of ownership that may force discharge or relocation of residents or otherwise adversely impact the provision of safe care and oversight.”
