Assisted Living Safety Procedures

Assisted living facilities provide many different types of medical and non-medical services to residents. Keeping residents safe at all times is the first priority. As such, assisted living safety procedures and policies are designed to reduce preventable accidents and injuries. Assisted living facilities must abide by state and federal laws and regulations in order to retain their status as a licensed care facility and remain in operation.

Standards For Admission

• Not all assisted living facilities are created equal. Some have separate Alzheimer's wards, while others have 24-hour nursing care available for residents who require it. Some facilities have neither of these options. The standard for admission at individual facilities is designed to ensure that the potential resident is a good fit and that they will not pose a danger to employees or other residents. Common admission questions include whether or not the individual requires chemical or physical restraint, has a contagious disease or requires feeding via a tube. Basic questions about the individual's care needs and requirements will also be asked.

Security And Monitoring

• For the safety of all residents, assisted living facilities are required to have security guards and/or security systems in place. Residents with dementia, Alzheimer's Disease or other conditions are more likely to wander off than other residents and facilities with Alzheimer's wards often keep these wards locked for this reason. If a patient does escape and/or harms themselves or another patient, the assisted living facility can be held liable for negligence.

Accident Prevention

• Slip and fall accidents can be particularly dangerous for senior citizens with fragile bones and limited mobility. As a safety precaution, assisted living facilities are required to install grip bars inside of showers and bathtubs and on the sides of toilets. Assisted living facilities are also required to follow the proper Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) procedures for disposal and handling of materials contaminated by bodily fluids in order to prevent the spread of disease and infection.