Assisted Living in New Mexico

Agency: Department of Health, Health Facility Licensing and Certification Bureau
Phone: (505) 476-9025
Website: http://dhi.health.state.nm.us/hflc/index.php

An assisted living facility provides programmatic services, room, board, and/or assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) to two or more individuals.

Facility Scope of Care:
The facility may provide assistance with ADLs and periodic professional nursing care for adults with physical or mental disabilities.

Move-In/Move-Out Requirements:
Facilities may not retain residents requiring continuous nursing care, which may include, but is not limited to, the following conditions: ventilator dependency; stage III or IV pressure sores; or any condition requiring either chemical or physical restraints. Facilities also may not retain individuals whose physician certifies that placement is no longer appropriate. Residents may receive hospice care.

Resident Assessment:
The state must review the facility's assessment form for sampled residents at time of survey. The form is used to establish a baseline in the resident's functional status. The form must include an assessment of cognitive patterns, communication/hearing patterns, vision patterns, physical functioning and structural problems, continence, psychosocial well-being, mood and behavior patterns, activity pursuit patterns, disease diagnoses, health conditions, oral/nutritional status, oral/dental status, skin conditions, medication use, and special treatment and procedures.

Medication Management:
Licensed health care professionals are responsible for the administration of medications. If a resident gives written consent, trained facility staff may assist a resident with medications.

Physical Plant Requirements:
Private resident units must be a minimum of 100 square feet and semi-private resident units must provide a minimum of 80 square feet of floor space per resident.

Residents Allowed Per Room:
A maximum of two residents is allowed per resident unit.

Life Safety:
Although automatic sprinkler systems are not mandated, manual fire alarm systems are required. Electric smoke detectors/alarms with battery backup are required on each floor to be audible in all sleeping areas. Smoke detectors are required in areas of assembly such as dining rooms and living rooms. Smoke detectors must also be installed in corridors with no more than thirty-foot spacing. Heat detectors, powered by the house electrical service, must be installed in all enclosed kitchens. New facilities and existing facilities that remodel are required to have smoke detectors in all sleeping rooms and common living areas.

Alzheimer's Unit Requirements:
Facilities that provide a memory care unit to serve residents with dementia must meet additional requirements relating to care coordination, employee training, individual service plans, assessments and reevaluations, documentation, security, resident rights, disclosure, and staffing. Facilities must provide sufficient number of trained staff members to meet the additional needs of residents and there must be at least one staff member awake and in attendance in the secured environment at all times.

Staff Training for Alzheimer's Care:
In addition to training requirements for all assisted living facilities, all employees assisting in providing care for memory unit residents shall have a minimum of 12 hours of training per year related to dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other pertinent information relating to the current residents.

Staffing Requirements:
The minimum staff-to-resident ratio is one staff person to 15 or fewer awake residents. When residents are sleeping, there must be one direct care worker for 15 or fewer residents; one direct care worker and one staff person for 16 to 60 residents; two direct care workers and one staff person for every 61 to 120 residents; and at least three direct care workers and one staff person for every 120 or more residents. All employees must complete a criminal background check.

Staff Education Training:
Direct care staff must be at least 18 years of age and have adequate education, training, or experience to provide for the needs of residents. Staff are required to complete ongoing training programs relating to fire safety; first aid; safe food handling practices; confidentiality of records and resident information; infection control; resident rights; reporting requirements for abuse, neglect, and exploitation; transportation safety for assisting residents and operating vehicles to transport residents; and providing quality resident care based on current resident needs. Employees must be screened for criminal history

Medicaid Policy and Reimbursements:
A Medicaid home and community-based services waiver covers services in assisted living. The waiver payment for assisted living services is a flat rate.