Louisiana

Residential assisted living licensing rules and official state resources

Licensure term: Adult Residential Care Providers
Resident capacity: Level 1 ARCP—an ARCP that provides adult residential care for compensation to two or more residents but no more than eight who are unrelated to the licensee or operator in a setting that is designed similarly to a single-family dwelling.
Staff ratios: No minimum ratios. Facilities must be sufficiently staffed to properly safeguard residents' health, safety, and welfare. Providers must demonstrate that sufficient staff are scheduled and available to meet residents' 24-hour scheduled and unscheduled needs and show adequate coverage for each day and night shift. Assisted living and shelter care facilities must have at least one staff person on duty and awake 24 hours a day. A direct care staff person who is not in the facility, but who is on call, must not be included as direct care staff on any shift.
Cost of licensing: $600 + $5 per unit
Bedroom square footage: Personal Care Homes. Apartment-style units are not required. Rooms are shared by no more than two residents, and in shelter care facilities they must agree in writing to share a room (husbands and wives do not have to sign such an agreement). There must be adequate toilet, bathing, and hand-washing facilities in accordance with the current edition of the state Sanitary Code.
Memory care: §6851. Specialized Dementia Care Programs

Full requirements

Regulatory Agency: Louisiana Department of Health - Office of Public Health
Contact Phone Number: 225-342-8954
Licensure Term(s): Adult Residential Care Providers
Census Requirements: Level 1 ARCP—an ARCP that provides adult residential care for compensation to two or more residents but no more than eight who are unrelated to the licensee or operator in a setting that is designed similarly to a single-family dwelling. Level 2 ARCP—an ARCP that provides adult residential care for compensation to nine or more residents but no more than 16 who are unrelated to the licensee or operator in a congregate setting that does not provide independent apartments equipped with kitchenettes, whether functional or rendered nonfunctional for reasons of safety.
Qualifications for Managers: Directors must complete 12 hours of continuing education per year in areas related to the field of geriatrics, assisted living concepts, specialized training in the population served, and/or supervisory/management techniques.
Qualifications for Caregivers: An orientation program for all staff must include but not be limited to thorough coverage of the following topics: facility policies and procedures, emergency and evacuation procedures, residents' rights, procedures for and legal requirements concerning the reporting of abuse and critical incidents, and instruction in the specific responsibilities of each employee's job. The provider must review the procedures with existing staff at least once in each 12-month period. The facility must provide an additional 5 days of supervised training for direct care staff. At a minimum this training must include training in resident care services (ADLs and IADLs), infection control, and any specialized training to meet resident needs. All direct care staff must be certified in adult first-aid within the first 30 days of employment. The orientation and 5 days of supervised training meets the first year's annual training requirements. In subsequent years, the provider must ensure that each direct care worker receives annual training that includes the topics covered by the orientation and the additional 5 days of supervised training stated above.
Staff Ratios: No minimum ratios. Facilities must be sufficiently staffed to properly safeguard residents' health, safety, and welfare. Providers must demonstrate that sufficient staff are scheduled and available to meet residents' 24-hour scheduled and unscheduled needs and show adequate coverage for each day and night shift. Assisted living and shelter care facilities must have at least one staff person on duty and awake 24 hours a day. A direct care staff person who is not in the facility, but who is on call, must not be included as direct care staff on any shift.
Cost of Licensing: $600 + $5 per unit
Square Footage Requirements: Personal Care Homes. Apartment-style units are not required. Rooms are shared by no more than two residents, and in shelter care facilities they must agree in writing to share a room (husbands and wives do not have to sign such an agreement). There must be adequate toilet, bathing, and hand-washing facilities in accordance with the current edition of the state Sanitary Code. Assisted living facilities must offer apartment-style units with lockable doors to ensure privacy, dignity, and independence. Each unit must include at a minimum: (1) a food preparation area consisting of a sink with hot and cold running water, electrical outlets, mini refrigerator, cooking appliance (such as microwave or stove), food storage cabinets, and counter space; (2) an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible private bath which includes a toilet, sink, and shower or tub; (3) dining/sitting/bedroom area; (4) storage/closet space; (5) an operating emergency call system (wired or wireless) that is easily accessible to the resident in the event of an emergency and that registers at a location that is monitored at all hours of the day and night; and (6) HVAC thermostats that can be individually controlled by the resident and at least one telephone outlet. There must be no more than two bedrooms per living unit and residents in double-occupancy units must have the right to select their roommates. Entrance to a bathroom from one bedroom must not be through another bedroom. An efficiency/studio living unit or a bedroom designed for one individual may be shared with another individual only if he or she is a spouse/relative or live-in companion and only if both parties agree, in writing. Residents sharing a living unit with a two-person bedroom must be allowed to choose their roommate. Both individuals must agree, in writing.
Bathrooms Required: One bathroom including a sink, shower and toilet for every four (4) residents.
Memory Care Requirements: §6851. Specialized Dementia Care Programs A. Scope and Purpose. The ARCP may establish a separate and distinct program to meet the needs of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. The ARCP shall provide a program of individualized care based upon an assessment of the cognitive and functional abilities of residents who have been included in the program. B. Any ARCP that offers such a program shall disclose this program to the department upon establishing the program or upon its discontinuance. C. Policies and Procedures 1. An ARCP that advertises, promotes or markets itself as offering a specialized dementia care program shall have written policies and procedures for the program that are retained by the administrative staff and available to all staff, to members of the public, and to residents, including those participating in the program. 2. The ARCP shall have established criteria for inclusion in the specialized dementia care program. 3. Guidelines for inclusion shall be provided to the resident, his/her family, and his/her legal representative. 4. Door locking arrangements to create secured areas may be permitted where the clinical needs of the residents require specialized protective measures for their safety, provided that such locking arrangements are approved by the OSFM and satisfy the requirements established by the OSFM and in accordance with R.S. 40:1300.121 et seq. a. If the services are provided in a secured area where special door locking arrangements are used, the ARCP shall comply with the requirements established for limited health care occupancies in accordance with the laws, rules and codes adopted by the OSFM. b. The secured areas shall be designed and staffed to provide the care and services necessary for the resident's needs to be met. c. There shall be sufficient staff to respond to emergency situations in the locked unit at all times. d. PCSPs shall address the reasons for the resident being in the unit and how the ARCP is meeting the resident's needs. e. There must be documentation in the resident's record to indicate the unit is the least restrictive environment possible, and placement in the unit is needed to facilitate meeting the resident’s needs. f. Inclusion in a program on the unit must be in compliance with R.S. 40:1299.53. D. Staff Training. Training in the specialized care of residents who are diagnosed by a physician as having Alzheimer’s disease, or a related disorder, shall be provided to all persons employed by the ARCP in accordance with the provisions established in §6867 of this Chapter. E. Disclosure of Services. An ARCP that advertises or markets itself as offering a specialized dementia care program shall provide in writing the following to any member of the public seeking information about the program: 1. the form of care or treatment provided that distinguishes it as being especially applicable to or suitable for such persons; 2. the philosophy and mission reflecting the needs of residents living with dementia; 3. the criteria for inclusion in the program and for discontinuance of participation should that become appropriate; 4. the assessment, care planning and the processes for ensuring the care plan’s responsiveness to the changes in the resident’s condition; 5. the staffing patterns, training and continuing education; 6. the physical environment and design features appropriate to support the functioning of residents living with dementia; 7. the involvement of families and the availability of family support programs; 8. the activities that are specifically directed toward residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder including, but not limited to, those designed to maintain the resident’s dignity and personal identity, enhance socialization and success, and accommodate the cognitive and functional ability of the resident; 9. the frequency of the activities that will be provided to such residents; 10. the safety policies and procedures and any security monitoring system that is specific to residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder including, but not limited to safety and supervision within the secured unit and within the secured exterior area; and 11. the program fees. F. An ARCP that advertises or markets itself as having a specialized dementia care program shall provide a secured exterior area for residents to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and secure manner.