Nursing homes in the state of Georgia are subject to rules established by the Department of Community Health under the office of the Georgia Secretary of State.
These rules are updated periodically to ensure a standard of quality of living in nursing homes operating in Georgia.
Sections 111-8-56-.13 and 111-8-56-14 of the Healthcare Facility Regulations specifically address the safety of residents and the environmental sanitation conditions of a nursing home.
What are some of the regulations for safety and environmental sanitation conditions?
Safety
- All buildings and equipment shall be maintained that no hazards to the life and safety of the patients exist.
- Parking areas and service entrances will contain designated unobstructed access for fire fighting equipment.
- Handrails shall be provided on all stairways and ramps.
- Doors to rooms used by patients will not allow the room to be locked from the inside.
- Floor surfaces need to be smooth and level with no scatter rugs or highly polished floors.
- All showers, tubs and toilets shall have grab bars and no patient is permitted to bathe without an available attendant unless a written statement is provided by a physician that states the patient is sufficiently responsible to bathe themselves.
Sanitation
- Sanitation equipment and supplies will be maintained on the premises.
- All laundry will be handled, stored and processed to minimize the spread of infection.
- All areas within the nursing home shall be kept clean and free from debris.
- Doors and ventilation openings, like ports for exhaust fans, shall be equipped and maintained to minimize ingress of flies, insects and rodents.
- Each home shall have an infection control program containing policies, procedures and training programs to prevent the spread of infection.
If a nursing home does not provide conditions that are safe and sanitary, and it leads to someone in your family suffering from an infectious disease or suffering a serious injury, then you may be able to hold the nursing home legally liable.
