Code of Federal Regulations (alpha)

CFR /  Title 38  /  Part 59  /  Sec. 59.140 Nursing home care requirements.

As a condition for receiving a grant and grant funds for a nursing home facility under this part, States must comply with the requirements of this section.

(a) Resident rooms must be designed and equipped for adequate nursing care, comfort, and privacy of residents. Resident rooms must:

(1) Accommodate no more than four residents;

(2) Have direct access to an exit corridor;

(3) Have at least one window to the outside;

(4) Be equipped with, or located near, toilet and bathing facilities (VA recommends that public toilet facilities also be located near the residents dining and recreational areas);

(5) Be at or above grade level;

(6) Be designed or equipped to ensure full visual privacy for each resident;

(7) Except in private rooms, each bed must have ceiling suspended curtains that extend around the bed to provide total visual privacy in combination with adjacent walls and curtains;

(8) Have a separate bed for each resident of proper size and height for the safety of the resident;

(9) Have a clean, comfortable mattress;

(10) Have bedding appropriate to the weather and climate;

(11) Have functional furniture appropriate to the resident's needs, and

(12) Have individual closet space with clothes racks and shelves accessible to the resident.

(b) Unless determined by VA as necessary to accommodate an increased quality of care for patients, a nursing home project may propose a deviation of no more than 10 percent (more or less) from the following net square footage for the State to be eligible for a grant of 65 percent of the total estimated cost of the project. If the project proposes building more than the following net square footage and VA makes a determination that it is not needed, the cost of the additional net square footage will not be included in the estimated total cost of construction.

Table to Paragraph (b)--Nursing Home------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------I. Support facilities [allowable

square feet (or metric

equivalent) per facility for VA

participation]:

Administrator................. 200

Assistant administrator....... 150

Medical officer, director of 150

nursing or equivalent.

Nurse and dictation area...... 120

General administration (each 120

office/person).

Clerical staff (each)......... 80

Computer area................. 40

Conference room (consultation 500 (for each room)

area, in-service training).

Lobby/waiting area. (150 3 (per bed)

minimum/600 maximum per

facility).

Public/resident toilets (male/ 25 (per fixture)

female).

Pharmacy \1\..................

Dietetic service \1\..........

Dining area................... 20 (per bed)

Canteen/retail sales.......... 2 (per bed)

Vending machines (450 max. per 1 (per bed)

facility).

Resident toilets (male/female) 25 (per fixture)

Child day care \1\............

Medical support (staff offices/ 140 (for each room)

exam/treatment room/family

counseling, etc.).

Barber and/or beauty shops.... 140

Mail room..................... 120

Janitor's closet.............. 40

Multipurpose room............. 15 (per bed)

Employee lockers.............. 6 (per employee)

Employee lounge (500 max. per 120

facility).

Employee toilets.............. 25 (per fixture)

Chapel........................ 450

Physical therapy.............. 5 (per bed)

Office, if required........... 120

Occupational therapy.......... 5 (per bed).

Office, if required........... 120

Library....................... 1.5 (per bed)

Building maintenance storage.. 2.5 (per bed)

Resident storage.............. 6 (per bed)

General warehouse storage..... 6 (per bed)

Medical/dietary/pharmacy...... 7 (per bed)

General laundry \1\...........II. Bed units:

One........................... 150

Two........................... 245

Large two-bed per unit........ 305

Four.......................... 460

Lounge areas (resident lounge 8 (per bed)

with storage).

Resident quiet room........... 3 (per bed)

Clean utility................. 120

Soiled utility................ 105

Linen storage................. 150

General storage............... 100

Nurses station, ward secretary 260

Medication room............... 75

Exam/Treatment room........... 140

Waiting area.................. 50

Unit supply and equipment..... 50

Staff toilet.................. 25 (per fixture)

Stretcher/wheelchair storage.. 100

Kitchenette................... 150

Janitor's closet.............. 40

Resident laundry.............. 125

Trash collection.............. 60

III. Bathing and Toilet

Facilities:

(A) Private or shared

facilities:

Wheelchair facilities..... 25 (per fixture)

Standard facilities....... 15 (per fixture)

(B) Full bathroom............. 75

(C) Congregate bathing

facilities:

First tub/shower.......... 80

Each additional fixture... 25------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The size to be determined by the Chief Consultant, Geriatrics and

Extended Care, as necessary to accommodate projected patient care

needs (must be justified by State in space program analysis). (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 501, 1710, 1742, 8105, 8131-8137; Sections 2, 3, 4, and 4a of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended, Public Law 90-480, 42 U.S.C. 4151-4157)