Idaho

Residential assisted living licensing rules and official state resources

Licensure term: Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities
Resident capacity: None stated ; Verify with individual City/County
Staff ratios: Facilities licensed for 15 or fewer beds must have at least one or more qualified and trained staff immediately available during resident sleeping hours. If any resident has been assessed as having night needs or is incapable of calling for assistance, staff must be awake. For facilities licensed for 16 or more beds, qualified and trained staff must be awake and immediately available during resident sleeping hours. For facilities with residents housed in detached buildings or units, at least one qualified and trained staff person must be present and available in each building.
Cost of licensing: Call for current licensing costs (208) 364-1962
Bedroom square footage: Apartment-style units are not required. A maximum of two residents is allowed per resident unit, unless a facility was licensed prior to July 1, 1991, in which case four residents can be housed per room. One toilet must be provided for every six residents.
Memory care: Dementia Care Staff. No provisions identified.

Full requirements

Regulatory Agency: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Licensing and Certification
Contact Phone Number: (208) 364-1962
Licensure Term(s): Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities
Census Requirements: None stated ; Verify with individual City/County
Qualifications for Managers: Type of Staff. Each facility must have one administrator to supervise all staff, including contract personnel, unless a variance has been issued allowing the administrator to cover more than one facility. The administrator must be on site for the time required to provide for safe and adequate care to residents. A licensed nurse must be available to administer medications and review medication services, and to delegate qualified staff to assist residents with self-administration. Trained staff must be available to provide resident services and at least one direct care staff with certification in first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be in the facility at all times.
Qualifications for Caregivers: Staff must have a minimum of 16 hours job-related orientation training before they are allowed to provide unsupervised personal assistance to residents, and each employee must receive 8 hours of job-related continuing training per year. Licensed administrators must receive 12 hours of continuing education each year as approved by the Bureau of Occupational Licenses. A facility admitting and retaining residents with a diagnosis of developmental disability, mental illness, or traumatic brain injury must train staff to meet these residents’ specialized needs. Examples of training topics in the regulations include: (1) overview of illness or disability; (2) symptoms and behaviors; (3) resident’s adjustment to the new living environment; (4) behavior management; (5) communication; (6) integration with rehabilitation services; (7) ADLs; (8) promotion of independence; (9) use of adaptive equipment; and (10) stress reduction for facility personnel and residents.
Staff Ratios: Facilities licensed for 15 or fewer beds must have at least one or more qualified and trained staff immediately available during resident sleeping hours. If any resident has been assessed as having night needs or is incapable of calling for assistance, staff must be awake. For facilities licensed for 16 or more beds, qualified and trained staff must be awake and immediately available during resident sleeping hours. For facilities with residents housed in detached buildings or units, at least one qualified and trained staff person must be present and available in each building.
Cost of Licensing: Call for current licensing costs (208) 364-1962
Square Footage Requirements: Apartment-style units are not required. A maximum of two residents is allowed per resident unit, unless a facility was licensed prior to July 1, 1991, in which case four residents can be housed per room. One toilet must be provided for every six residents.
Bathrooms Required: 1 for every 6 residents
Memory Care Requirements: Dementia Care Staff. No provisions identified. Dementia Staff Training. If the facility admits or retains residents with a diagnosis of dementia, staff must be trained in the following topics: • Overview of dementia. • Symptoms and behaviors of people with memory impairment. • Communication with people with memory impairment. • Resident’s adjustment to the new living environment. • Behavior management. • Stress reduction for facility personnel and residents. If a resident is admitted with a diagnosis of dementia or if a resident acquires this diagnosis, and staff have not received relevant training, they must be trained within 30 calendar days. In the interim, the facility must meet the resident’s needs. ID-5 Dementia Facility Requirements. If the facility accepts and retains residents who have cognitive impairment, the facility must provide an interior environment and exterior yard that is secure and safe.