New Mexico Regulations for Assisted Living Facilties

New Mexico last updated its regulations for assisted living facilities in 2010, and these are some of the most recently changed in the nation. Since there are no federal regulations directly tied to assisted living facilities, these modifications are the only ones to affect residents considering a facility there.



The state defines the assisted living facility, formerly an adult residential care facility, as any residence or building where staff provide aid to two or more individuals in addition to room and board.

Living Area and Bathrooms

• If a resident has his own private bedroom, it must be at least 100 square feet in size. Shared bedrooms must offer at least 80 square feet of personal living space to each occupant, with a maximum of two people for a total of at least 160 square feet.

  For every eight residents, there must be at least one sink, toilet and shower or tub, with a minimum of one per facility.

  Facilities do not need automatic sprinkler systems, although fire alarms are required. New facilities now require smoke detectors in bedrooms and areas such as dining and living rooms.

Staffing

• During the day, there must be at least one aide per fifteen residents in a New Mexico assisted living facility. During the evening, there must be one aide and one other worker for facilities with 16 to 60 residents, with the number increasing with the size of the facility.

  Administrators must be 21 years or older, must complete the New Mexico certification program and must comply with a background check that may include criminal records research and financial data. Other staff are required to complete training in elder care, records security and emergency preparation that may include First Aid.

Dementia Care

• Specific care plans must be in place for New Mexico assisted living facilities that provide services to patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and staff members working in these units must have at least 12 hours of annual training on the unique needs of these patients. In addition, at least one staff member must be present in the Alzheimer's care wing throughout the night.