§ 20-10-1504 — Disclosure of treatment offered

(a) (1) Any facility having an Alzheimer's special care unit shall be required to disclose the form of care or treatment provided to or for persons with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. (2) (A) The disclosure shall be made to the Office of Long-Term Care and to any person or the person's guardian or relative seeking placement within an Alzheimer's special care unit. (B) The office shall examine all such disclosures as part of the facility's license renewal procedure and verify their accuracy. (b) Each disclosure shall explain the additional care provided in each of the following areas: (1) Treatment philosophy: The Alzheimer's special care unit's or program's written statement of its overall treatment philosophy and mission which reflects the needs of residents afflicted with dementia; (2) Screening, admission, and discharge procedures, assessment, planning and implementation of care, staffing patterns, and training ratios unique to the unit; (3) Physical environment and design features appropriate to support the functioning of cognitively impaired adult residents; (4) The frequency and types of resident activities; (5) The involvement of families and the availability of family support programs; and (6) The costs of care and any additional fees unique to the Alzheimer's special care unit or program. (c) (1) If a facility having an Alzheimer's special care unit does not meet those specific standards established by the office, the office shall instruct the facility to immediately cease advertising or holding itself out as having one (1) or more special programs for residents with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. (2) If the facility fails or refuses to comply with instructions from the office, the office may sue in the name of the state the facility and any owner, manager, or director of the facility to enjoin the facility from advertising or holding itself out as having one (1) or more special programs for residents with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

Legislative History

Acts 1999, No. 484, § 4; 2001, No. 500, § 3.