Residential Care and Assisted Living - Agency for Healthcare ...

Mississippi
Approach
The Department of Health licenses personal care homes/assisted living facilities. Licenses are
issued for 1 year, and facilities are inspected annually. Surveyors follow a handbook during the
inspection process that parallels regulatory requirements. Informal interviews are conducted with
residents, family members, and staff.
Operators are required to spend 2 concurrent days with the licensing agency for training and
mentoring within 6 months of employment. The operator may be assigned within central offices
or with a survey team. Surveyors who have passed the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test
are also required to spend 2 concurrent days with a licensed facility for training and mentoring
within 6 months of employment.
Communicating with Consumers
Personal care home/assisted living regulations are posted on the Department’s Website.
Missouri
Approach
The Department of Health and Senior Services licenses two levels of residential care facilities
annually. Facilities are inspected twice a year. The second inspection may be waived for
facilities that are in good standing based on previous inspection reports, their history of
compliance, and the number and severity of complaints, and whether there was a change in the
ownership, operator, or director of nursing. Inspectors bring a copy of the regulations and
policies with them during the review. Inspectors meet with the administrator and conduct a tour
of the facility. Inspectors interview 10 percent of the residents or a minimum of 3 and a
maximum of 25, depending on the licensed resident capacity. Interviews are open-ended, and
inspectors will spend time talking with residents who are identified as having difficulty
navigating a path to safety. They will also talk with residents observed to have bruises about
problems they may have getting to the bathroom and into and out of bed, whether they have
problems with other residents or are fearful or worried about other residents. Inspectors do not
provide consultation or technical assistance but do refer staff to other organizations under
contract with the State to assist nursing and residential care facilities.
Complaints are triaged based on the level of harm to residents. Complaints involving imminent
risk are investigated on site within 24 hours. Lesser complaints are investigated within 30 days.
Communicating with Consumers
Section 198.528 of the revised statutes, passed in 2003, requires posting on the Department’s
Web site of the most recent survey findings of deficiencies and the effect a deficiency would
have on the facility; the facility's proposed plan of correction; and information on how to obtain
a copy of a complete facility survey conducted during the last 3 years.
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