Assisted living with memory care

[Sifu]

Who and how is the capability of a resident to respond to an emergency determined? In an assisted living facility with memory care it would B an I-1 classification, but 2 conditions are identified. Cond. #1 is no assistance, cond. #2 is limited assistance. I assume no assistance could likely not include memory care units, and limited is anything short of needing to be wheeled out by someone else.

 

[jj1289]

This has always been an issue. The client should be able to provide you with information if the rooms/area will be locked down and what stage of memory care. Some states will define this on the type of license they are applying for also.

 

[Sifu]

This has always been an issue. The client should be able to provide you with information if the rooms/area will be locked down and what stage of memory care. Some states will define this on the type of license they are applying for also.

Yes, I have looked to the licensing component for similar questions, but found licensing is often not worked out before they submit for building permits and that it changes from what they propose to the state licensing agency and what gets approved. I have also seen state licensing that does not line up with the IBC classifications.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

In this state, the code officials have no say in making this determination. It's determined by whatever state agency licenses the facility, and we just apply to code based on what the classification is.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

In this state, the code officials have no say in making this determination. It's determined by whatever state agency licenses the facility, and we just apply to code based on what the classification is.

I'd concur.

I've been volunteering with a group aiming to build an assisted living complex for developmentally challenged adults. The province has dictated a lot of what we can/can't do and what capacity residents need to be.

 

[TheCommish]

can the residents self evacuate? if not in my mind it would be and I use not a B

 

[Sifu]

I would think in memory care, at least every one I have been in, self-evacuation isn't a guarantee. Easy enough to just follow the "include, but not limited to" part of the classification descriptions, but when we introduce "memory care" it makes me wonder. What I am looking at is the difference between an I-1, cond. #2 and an I-2, cond. #1. The difference being medical care and incapable of self-preservation. The definition for incapable of self-preservation says "cannot respond as an individual". But it also seems that someone who needs "limited or verbal assistance" to respond could also be someone who cannot respond as an individual (without limited assistance). This is mostly an exercise in thought and critical thinking. I have a relative in a nursing home, clearly an I-2, cond. #1. There has been talk of moving him to the assisted living side (same building), where he would still be incapable of self preservation as an individual. He can't get out of his own bed, into his wheelchair, but after that he could probably self-propel to a door, but might need help knowing which way to go, and certainly would be pretty slow without the limited verbal assistance. If the assisted side of the building is classified as an I-1, cond. #2 (no idea what classification), IMO he has no business over there....as much as I would like him to be there. But there is a difference between an aid guiding someone by the elbow to a door and my relative's situation.

I did get a proposal, early stages, for an assisted living facility, with a memory care wing. It is preliminary enough that the documents don't have a code analysis, just a conceptual site plan, so it came up in my head again. My guess is it will come in as an I-1,cond.#2, but maybe mixed with I-2, cond. #1, and I will coordinate with the state to make sure they concur. Long ago, as a fire inspector for a state health agency I had the luxury of not needing to delve into this too much as it was already set in stone by the time I got involved, but my recollection is that when we surveyed, the nursing side was all over these types of questions and capabilities. It is my assumption that the state nursing side of things here is the agency best equipped to make these types of determinations. No idea of the proposed construction type, and it is 3 stories, so the classification can have an impact on the allowable area and stories.