General building requirements

The basic care facility must be operated in conformance with all state and local laws, rules, and ordinances concerning fire safety and sanitation. 1. Lounge and activity space must be provided at a minimum of fifteen square feet [1.39 square meters] per licensed bed for recreation, visiting, and an activity program. The lounge and activity area may be used to accommodate religious services and activities. Each lounge area for resident use must be provided with an adequate number of reading lamps, tables, and chairs or couches. These furnishings must be well-constructed and accommodate the needs of the residents. 2. Kitchen. Dietary areas and equipment must be designed to accommodate the requirements for sanitary storage, processing, and handling. 3. Dining area. a. A minimum of fifteen square feet [1.39 square meters] per licensed bed must be provided for dining. Activity and dining areas must be separate. b. Dining room furnishings must be well-constructed, comfortable, in good repair, and must accommodate the needs of the residents. There must be a sufficient number of tables of suitable design to accommodate the needs of all residents using wheelchairs. 4. Resident bedrooms. a. All bedrooms used for residents must be dry, well-ventilated, and otherwise suitable for occupancy. Each room must have direct access to a corridor and have an outside wall with natural light provided by a window. Resident bedrooms licensed after the effective date of these rules must be at or above grade level. b. The glazed areas of the window may not be less than one-tenth of the floor area of the room. Windows must be easily opened and must be provided with screens. Windows may have stops to prevent full opening that could result in accidental falls or unintended exiting from window openings. c. Room size will vary depending on the number of beds, but minimum floor dimensions may not be less than ten feet [3.05 meters]. In computing floor area, only usable floor space may be included. Single rooms must provide at least one hundred square feet [9.29 square meters]. Double rooms must provide at least eighty square feet [7.43 square meters] per bed. d. Each resident must be provided with a bed and mattress. Cots, rollaways, or folding beds may not be used. Double beds may be used if requested by the resident and there is adequate space. Each bed must be provided with springs in good repair and a clean, firm, comfortable mattress of appropriate size for the bed, as well as a minimum of one clean, comfortable pillow. e. Each bedroom window must have window shades, or an equivalent, in good repair. f. Light levels to meet the needs of residents and to allow for reading and safety must be provided. g. Each bedroom must be provided with a mirror unless there is a mirror in a toilet room opening into the bedroom. Each resident lavatory must be provided with a mirror. Bedrooms or bathrooms in a secured unit or secured facility may or may not have mirrors based on the assessment of the resident. h. For each bed there must be furnished a minimum of two adequately sized dresser drawers, a chair, a bedside table or stand, an individual towel rack, and closet, locker, or wardrobe space for hanging clothing within the room. 5. Toilet rooms and bathing facilities. a. Separate toilets for public use must be provided. b. Each bath and toilet room must be well-lighted. 6. The facility shall provide for adequate ventilation throughout to assure an odor-free, comfortable environment. 7. Office spaces and other areas must be furnished with desks, chairs, lamps, cabinets, benches, worktables, or other furnishings essential to the proper use of the area.