Aug 20 2022 | Respite Care in Assisted Living

Assisted living facilities can legally provide short-term respite care in assisted-living licensed rooms. There is no additional application or approval process necessary for an assisted living to offer respite care.

Respite stays are an excellent way for residents and their families to “try on” assisted living and learn how a resident settles into this type of care setting. Per WAC 388-78A-2202, respite clients cannot legally stay beyond 30 calendar days; the facility cannot use respite as a placement pending the resident’s admission to the assisted living facility.

Prior to admitting a respite client, the assisted living facility must obtain sufficient information about the person to meet the client’s needs. At a minimum, that information includes:

• The resident’s legal name
• The name, phone number, and address of the resident’s representative (if applicable)
• The name and address of the location where the resident normally lives, with the name of the contact person and their phone number
• The name, address, and phone number of the resident’s attending physician
• Medical and social history, as well as mental and physical assessment data
• Physician’s orders for diet, medication, and routine care

Respite residents also must have a negotiated service agreement (NSA), developed with the resident and, where appropriate, their representative. The NSA must focus on maintaining or improving the individual’s health and functional status during their stay.

The assisted living facility may use their internal assessment and NSA systems used for all assisted living residents to fulfill the requirements of these sections. Alternately, respite care assessments and service plans completed by case managers working for Area Agencies on Aging can be used.

WAC 388-78A-2206 calls out the idea that respite residents warrant assessment for symptoms of tuberculosis and, if results show symptoms, testing should take place. Likewise, the facility must follow appropriate infection control processes for any respite resident showing signs of other infectious diseases.

It is recommended that the facility have policies and procedures highlighting respite resident admission, services, and discharge. A separate admission agreement for respite residents is recommended. All respite residents have access to DSHS and ombuds representatives, and their records can be audited during inspections.

For questions about assisted living regulations, contact Vicki McNealley via email or call 1-800-562-6170 extension 107.