Additional Environment and Safety for Supported Living for Serious Mental

Additional Environment and Safety for Supported Living for Serious Mental Illness and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities This rule applies specifically to additional environment and safety requirements for Supported Living Services for SMI and IDD. Supported Living Services for SMI and IDD must follow this rule in addition to all other applicable Health, Environment, and Safety rules included in this chapter. When a rule in this section may overlap with another rule in Chapter 13, the provider must adhere to the more stringent rule. A. Supported Living for Serious Mental Illness and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: 1. Agency providers must document that all fire extinguishers are properly maintained and serviced. Homes must have evidence that fire extinguishers are being recharged or replaced, as needed, but at a minimum every six (6) years. Fire extinguishers that cannot be recharged must be replaced immediately. 2. Each housing unit/house must have at a minimum, operable carbon monoxide detector where natural gas or any other source of carbon monoxide emission is used or where there is an open flame (e.g., gas heater, gas water heater, etc.). One (1) carbon monoxide detector must be located in every 1,000 square foot area or less. 3. In lieu of posted escape routes, agency providers must document training that prepares a person to exit their housing unit/house in the event of emergency. 4. Upon admission and at least annually thereafter, training must be provided to adults receiving Supported Living Services (whether or not the housing unit/house is owned or controlled by the agency provider) which includes, but is not limited to, the following: (a) The PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) method of using a fire extinguisher. If necessary, employees must assist in obtaining and mounting fire extinguisher(s); (b) Fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide safety and the use of detectors. If necessary, employees must assist in obtaining and mounting fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors; (c) Hot water safety. If necessary, employees must assist in testing and regulating the hot water temperature, documenting such in a log to be maintained by the agency provider employees; (d) Any other health/safety issues based on the needs or identified risk for each person; (e) How to contact 911 in an emergency; and (f) How to contact agency provider employees in an emergency. B. Supported Living for Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: 1. Supported Living Services are provided in home-like settings where people have access to the community at large, to the extent they desire, as documented in the Plan of Services and Supports and Activity Support Plan. 2. DMH does not certify Supported Living settings for people with IDD in manufactured housing. (Exception: Supported Living service location not owned or controlled by a certified agency provider).