Pennsylvania

Residential assisted living licensing rules and official state resources

Licensure term: Personal Care Home
Resident capacity: 4+
Staff ratios: At all times one or more residents are present in the home a direct care staff person who is 21 years of age or older and who serves as the designee, shall be present in the home. The direct care staff person may be the administrator if the administrator provides direct care services.
Cost of licensing: 15.0
Bedroom square footage: (a) Each single bedroom must have at least 80 square feet of floor space measured wall to wall, including space occupied by furniture.
Memory care: Regulations under Secured Dementia Care Units (Rules 2600-231 through 2600-239) in link below:

Full requirements

Regulatory Agency: PA Department of Human Services
Contact Phone Number: 717-783-3670 (Jacqueline Rowe, Director)
Licensure Term(s): Personal Care Home
Census Requirements: 4+
Qualifications for Managers: The administrator shall have one of the following qualifications: (1) A license as a registered nurse from the Department of State. (2) An associate’s degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university. (3) A license as a licensed practical nurse from the Department of State and 1 year of work experience in a related field. (4) A license as a nursing home administrator from the Department of State. (5) For a home serving 8 or fewer residents, a general education development diploma or high school diploma and 2 years direct care or administrative experience in the human services field. (b) The administrator shall be 21 years of age or older. (c) The administrator shall be responsible for the administration and management of the home, including the health, safety and well-being of the residents, implementation of policies and procedures and compliance with this chapter. (d) The administrator shall have the ability to provide personal care services or to supervise or direct the work to provide personal care services. (e) The administrator shall have knowledge of this chapter. (f) The administrator shall have the ability to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including this chapter. (g) The administrator shall have the ability to maintain or supervise the maintenance of financial and other records. (h) The administrator shall be free from a medical condition, including drug or alcohol addiction, that would limit the administrator from performing duties with reasonable skill and safety.
Qualifications for Caregivers: "(a) Direct care staff persons shall have the following qualifications: (1) Be 18 years of age or older, except as permitted in subsection (b). (2) Have a high school diploma, GED or active registry status on the Pennsylvania nurse aide registry. (3) Be free from a medical condition, including drug or alcohol addiction, that would limit direct care staff persons from providing necessary personal care services with reasonable skill and safety. (b) An individual who is 16 or 17 years of age may be a staff person at a home, but may not perform tasks related to medication administration. A staff person who is 16 or 17 years of age may not perform tasks related to incontinence care, bathing or dressing of residents without supervision. (c) A volunteer who performs ADLs shall meet the staff person qualifications and training requirements specified in this chapter. (d) A resident receiving personal care services who voluntarily performs tasks in the home will not be considered a volunteer under this chapter.
Staff Ratios: At all times one or more residents are present in the home a direct care staff person who is 21 years of age or older and who serves as the designee, shall be present in the home. The direct care staff person may be the administrator if the administrator provides direct care services.
Cost of Licensing: 15.0
Square Footage Requirements: (a) Each single bedroom must have at least 80 square feet of floor space measured wall to wall, including space occupied by furniture. (b) Each shared bedroom must have at least 60 square feet of floor space per resident measured wall to wall, including space occupied by furniture.
Bathrooms Required: (a) There shall be at least one functioning flush toilet for every six or fewer users, including residents, staff persons and household members. (b) There shall be at least one sink and wall mirror for every six or fewer users including residents, staff persons and household members.