Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy: 2015 Edition

TENNESSEE

The Tennessee Department of Health, Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities,

licenses assisted care living facilities and residential homes for the aged to provide

services to older persons who need assistance with personal care. Assisted care living

facilities may provide a higher level of care than residential homes for the aged,

including the provision of medical services. Licensing rules specify requirements for

dementia care in both settings.

Adult Foster Care. The state licenses and administers a family home for adults

program for up to five adults who are frail, disabled, or victims of abuse, through the

Department of Health Adult Protective Services Program. In addition, the Department of

at the links provided at the end.

Assisted care living facilities provide room and board and services, including

medical services, to enable residents to age in place. No provisions regarding the

minimum number of residents required for licensure were identified.

Residential homes for the aged provide room and board, and personal care

procedure for handling resident transfers or discharges, which does not violate the

residents’ rights under the law or licensing rules.

Assisted care living facilities must, prior to the admission or execution of a

contract for resident care, disclose in writing to the resident or the resident’s legal

representative, whether the facility has liability insurance and, if so, the insurance

Assisted care living facilities may not admit or retain individuals whose needs

the facility cannot safely and effectively meet, including residents who require treatment

of Stage III or IV decubitus ulcers; continuous nursing care; or physical or chemical

restraints (this does not include psychotropic medications prescribed for a manageable

mental disorder). Facilities may also not admit or retain individuals with active,

infectious, and reportable diseases that require contact isolation; or verbal or physical

physician must certify that the facility can safely and effectively provide the treatment.

The Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities may permit the treatments listed in

the paragraph above to be provided on an ongoing basis to residents who receive

hospice services. Residents who require any of the above treatments and who are able

to independently manage them may be admitted and retained.

If the resident or legal representative, treating physician, or the facility

need for medical services, the resident must be transferred to an appropriate setting.

self-administer medications; who require professional medical or nursing observation

and/or care on a continual or daily basis; who pose a clearly documented danger to

themselves or other residents; who cannot safely evacuate the facility in 13 minutes; or

who require chemical or physical restraints.

Homes may admit residents who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or

other dementias if an interdisciplinary team determines that care can appropriately and

safely be provided in the facility. Residents must be assessed quarterly to ensure that

the facility can continue to meet their needs.

care; responsibility for the safety of the resident when in the facility; the ability and

readiness to intervene if crises arise; assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs);

Residential homes for the aged must provide the same personal services listed

Assisted care living facilities must assess residents within 72 hours of

admission. The written assessment may by conducted by a direct care staff member. A

plan of care must be written within 5 days of admission and must be reviewed at least

semi-annually or when residents’ needs change. The plan of care describes:

• Provisions of an advance care directive and the name of any individual named as

a health care power-of-attorney.

• Recreational and social activities.

• Dietary needs.

Residential Homes for the Aged. No provisions identified.

Assisted care living facility residents must be able to receive hospice services in

the facility as long as the resident's treating physician certifies that hospice care can be

appropriately provided in the facility. In addition to appropriately licensed and qualified

facility staff, medical services may be provided by licensed or qualified contractors, a

licensed home care organization, licensed staff of a nursing home, or another

appropriately licensed entity.

and/or snacks to residents with special dietary needs or upon request.

home administrator; a designated attendant who is awake and responsible for providing

personal services to residents; and a licensed nurse available as needed. A qualified

personal services to residents; and additional staff as needed.

to meet residents’ needs.

years. Administrator certification requires 24 classroom hours of Board-approved

continuing education courses during the 2 years that includes instruction in the following

secured unit to have annual in-service training covering as a minimum the following

topics:

criminal offense involving the abuse or intentional neglect of an elderly or vulnerable

individual. Facilities may not employ any person listed on the Department’s abuse

condition of re-licensing.

to CHOICES members, and not to other assisted living care facility residents.

The state does not provide an SSI payment. Family supplementation is permitted

PDF http://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-report/compendium-residential-care-and-

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Michigan http://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-report/compendium-residential-care-and-

Mississippi http://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-report/compendium-residential-care-and-