Pennsylvania Administrative Code

PHYSICAL SITE § 11.51. Special accommodations. Centers serving clients with a physical handicap or impediment, blindness, a visual impairment, deafness or a hearing impairment shall have accommodations to ensure safety and reasonable accessibility for entrance to, movement within…

§ 11.52. Indoor floor and other space. (a) Except as set forth in subsection (b), a center that is co-located in a center housing other services shall have its own separate identifiable space during the hours of operation of the older adult daily living center. (b) A center that …

§ 11.53. Poisons. (a) Poisonous materials shall be kept in a cabinet, closet, cupboard or container that is locked or placed in a location which is inaccessible to clients. (b) Poisonous materials shall be kept separate from food, food preparation surfaces and dining surfaces. Cr…

§ 11.54. Sources of heat. Hot water pipes, fixed space heaters, radiators, wood and coal burning stoves, fireplaces and other sources of heat exceeding 120° F that are accessible to clients shall be equipped with protective guards or insulation to prevent clients from coming in c…

§ 11.55. Sanitation. (a) Clean and sanitary conditions shall be maintained in all areas of the center. (b) Evidence of infestation of insects or rodents in the center may not be present. (c) Garbage and rubbish shall be removed from inside the center daily and from outside the bu…

§ 11.56. Ventilation. Center areas, dining areas, kitchens and lavatories shall be ventilated by operable windows or mechanical ventilation, such as fans. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.57. Lighting. Rooms, hallways, interior stairways, outside steps, interior and outside doorways, porches, ramps and fire escapes shall be lighted to assure client safety and to avoid accidents. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicabi…

§ 11.58. Surfaces. (a) Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces shall be in good repair. (b) Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces shall be free of hazards, such as loose or broken window glass, pointed projections, loose or cracked floor coverings. Cross References This s…

§ 11.59. Running water. (a) A center shall have hot and cold running water in all bathrooms and kitchen areas. (b) Hot water temperatures in areas accessible to clients may not exceed 130° F. (c) Centers that are not connected to a public water system shall comply with 25 Pa. Cod…

§ 11.6. Service goals. The goals of planned programs of older adult daily living services provided to clients at centers are as follows: (1) To improve the quality of life of individuals with functional impairment. (2) To provide respite for caregivers and clients. (3) To provide…

§ 11.60. Indoor temperature. (a) Indoor temperature shall be at least 70° F when clients are in the center. (b) Whenever indoor temperature exceeds 80° F, mechanical ventilation, such as fans, or air conditioning is required. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11…

§ 11.61. Telephone. A center shall have an operable, noncoin-operated telephone with an outside line to which staff persons and clients have reasonable access. Subject to rules established by the center, clients may make and receive calls in reasonable privacy, or have calls made…

§ 11.62. Emergency and advocacy agency telephone numbers. A center shall post on or by each telephone in the center with an outside line: (1) The telephone numbers of the nearest hospital, police department, fire department, ambulance, crisis intervention unit and poison control …

§ 11.63. Screens, windows and doors. (a) Windows, including windows in doors, shall be screened when windows or doors are open. (b) Screens, windows and doors shall be in good repair. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.64. Handrails and railings. (a) Ramps, interior stairways and outside steps exceeding two steps shall have well-secured handrails. (b) A porch that has over 8 inches drop shall have a well-secured railing. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating …

§ 11.65. Nonskid surfaces. Interior stairs and outside steps shall have a nonskid surface. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.66. Landings. (a) A landing shall be provided beyond each interior and exterior door that opens directly into a stairway. (b) A landing shall be at least as wide as the stairs leading to the landing. (c) A landing shall be at least 3 feet long. Cross References This section …

§ 11.67. Furniture and equipment. (a) Furniture shall be nonhazardous, clean and sturdy. Chairs with arms shall be available for clients who need them. (b) Furniture and equipment shall be appropriate for the age, size and disabilities of the individual clients. Cross References …

§ 11.68. Storage of personal belongings. Space shall be provided for hanging hats and coats and the storage of personal belongings. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.69. Bathrooms. The following requirements apply to centers applying for licensure, and to construction begun at existing licensed centers, after October 12, 1993. Centers licensed, and construction begun at existing licensed centers, before October 12, 1993, are exempt from …

§ 11.7. Nondiscrimination. In licensing centers providing older adult daily living services, the Department and operators, respectively, shall act in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.A. § 2000d), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 …

§ 11.70. First aid. (a) A center shall have a first aid area that is separated by partition, privacy screen or other means from program areas. (b) The first aid area shall have a bed or reclining chair or cot, a blanket and a pillow. (c) Each floor of the center shall have a firs…

§ 11.71. Elevators. If an elevator is present in the center, the center shall maintain a valid certificate of operation from the Department of Labor and Industry with its records. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.72. Exterior conditions. (a) Outside walkways shall be free from ice, snow, leaves, equipment and other hazards. (b) Center grounds shall be free from debris and unsafe conditions. (c) The outside of the building and the center grounds shall be well maintained and in good re…

§ 11.8. Responsible party. (a) A client may voluntarily designate a person as a responsible party. The client designates the responsible party by executing a written document which states the area in which the client authorizes the responsible party to act in the client’s behalf.…

FIRE SAFETY § 11.81. Unobstructed egress. Stairways, halls, doorways, aisles, passageways and exits from rooms and from the building shall be unobstructed at all times. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.82. Evacuation procedures. (a) There shall be written emergency evacuation procedures that include staff responsibilities, means of transportation, emergency shelter location and an evacuation diagram specifying directions for egress in case of an emergency. (b) Written emer…

§ 11.83. Fire safety inspection. The center shall have an annual onsite fire safety inspection by the local fire department or other fire safety authority. Documentation of the date, source and results of the fire safety inspection shall be kept with its records. Cross References…

§ 11.84. Flammable and combustible materials. Flammable and combustible supplies and equipment shall be utilized safely and stored in fire-resistant containers away from heat sources. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicability).

§ 11.85. Portable space heaters. Portable space heaters, defined as heaters that are not permanently mounted or installed, are not permitted in any room including offices if they are fueled with gasoline, kerosene or other flammable liquid. Centers may use other portable space he…

§ 11.86. Fire alarm. (a) There shall be an operable fire alarm system that is audible throughout the building. (b) If one or more clients have deafness or a hearing impairment, the center shall do one of the following: (1) Equip the fire alarm system with visual alarm devices. (2…

§ 11.87. Fire extinguishers. (a) There shall be at least one fire extinguisher with a minimum 2-A rating as classified by the National Fire Protection Association and rated by the American National Standards Institute for each floor including the basement. (b) If the indoor floor…

§ 11.88. Fire drills. (a) A fire drill, complete with evacuation to a designated meeting place outside the building or a fire safe area within a building, shall be held at least once every 6 months. (b) A written fire drill record shall be kept of the date, time, the amount of ti…

§ 11.89. Exit signs. (a) Signs bearing the word ‘‘EXIT’’ in plain, legible letters shall be placed at exits. (b) If the exit or way to reach the exit is not immediately visible to the clients, access to exits shall be marked with readily-visible signs indicating the direction of …

§ 11.9. Client rights. (a) The program director/administrator shall ensure that clients are, to the extent of their ability, aware of the rights specified in this section. Responsible parties shall also be made aware of client rights. Center clients have rights which include the …

§ 11.90. Fire safety training for clients. (a) A client shall be instructed upon initial admission and reinstructed quarterly in general fire safety, evacuation procedures, responsibilities during fire drills and the designated meeting place outside the building or within the fir…

§ 11.91. Smoking safety procedures. (a) If clients or staff persons smoke at the center, there shall be written smoking safety procedures. (b) Written smoking safety procedures shall be followed. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 11.212 (relating to applicabilit…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 15.1. Scope and authority. (a) This chapter governs the administration and provision of protective services for older adults under the act, the mandatory reporting of the abuse of recipients of care and required criminal history record information reports for…

CONFIDENTIALITY § 15.101. General. Information contained in the agency’s protective services case files, as defined under § 15.2 (relating to definitions), shall be considered confidential and shall be maintained under this chapter. Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Co…

§ 15.102. Maintenance of case records. (a) Protective services case records shall be kept, when not in use by authorized persons, in a locked container and separate from other agency files. The report, the record of investigation, notes of contact with the older adult and others …

§ 15.103. Responsibilities of staff with access to confidential information. (a) The agency shall assure that staff with access to information contained, or to be contained, in a case record are fully aware of the confidentiality provisions of this chapter and of the local agency…

§ 15.104. Penalties for violation of confidentiality requirements. (a) If a staff person who is authorized to have access to confidential information under this chapter is strongly suspected of violating the requirements in the signed confidentiality statement under § 15.103(c) (…

§ 15.105. Limited access to records and disclosure of information. Information in a protective services case record may not be disclosed, except as provided in this section. (1) Information may be disclosed to a court of competent jurisdiction or under a court order. The protecti…

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION § 15.11. Administrative functions and responsibilities of the Department. (a) General responsibilities. The Department will establish and maintain a Statewide system of protective services for older adults who need them. These services will be available and…

FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS § 15.111. Coordination of available resources. (a) The agency shall insure that funding authorized under the act is not used to supplant public and private entitlements or resources as defined in § 15.2 (relating to definitions) for which older adults are, o…

§ 15.112. Uses of funding authorized by the act. The agency may utilize funding authorized by the act to pay for activities, including the following: (1) Administering protective services plans as described in § 15.12(b) (relating to administrative functions and responsibilities …

§ 15.113. Time limitation on service purchases. (a) After exhausting available steps to provide necessary services through existing agency resources, utilization of other providers and the coordination of public and private entitlements and resources, the agency may purchase thos…