Personal Care Homes In Georgia | A Caregiver's Journal

Proposed Changes to Georgia Personal Care Home Rules and Regulations

This information was forwarded from the Georgia Advocacy Team (part of Alzheimer’s Association – www.alz.org). If you love in Georgia, please respond.

Proposed Changes to Personal Care Home Administrative Rules and Regulations–In July, a person with Alzheimer’s disease wandered away from the personal care home where she lived in Augusta, and after two days of searching, was found deceased. The Association Vice President for Programs, Services and Public Policy Ginny Helms notified the State that this death reflects the fact that the Personal Care Home regulations do not have provisions ensuring the safety of persons with dementia.

Ginny was invited to discuss the regulations with the Healthcare Facility Regulations Division Chief, Doug Colburn. He and his staff made changes to the administrative rules and regulations that will better protect persons with dementia. The Board of Community Health is holding a public hearing on the proposed regulations on Wednesday, October 21^st. We are asking that you write a letter in support of these new regulations and mail or e-mail it to the Board of Health. The deadline for the postmark on the letter, or for their receipt of your e-mail is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, October 22.

To e-mail comments: wmcgaha@dch.ga.gov

To mail comments:

Members of the Board of Community Health
c/o General Counsel Division
2 Peachtree St, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-3159

Key talking points include

I am concerned that current administrative rules and regulations for personal care homes do not have provisions to ensure the safety of persons with dementia.
Nearly 70% of persons with Alzheimer’s disease wander.
Of those who wander, if they are not found within 24 hours, up to 50% risk serious injury or death.
Existing regulations do not adequately address the risk of wandering and leave residents with cognitive impairment at risk for harm or death.
I believe that Requirements for Memory Care Services set forth in Section 111-8-62-19 of the Ga. Admin. Comp. Ch. 111-8-62, Personal Care Homes (new) proposed rules and regulations address the concern about lack of safety provisions in personal care homes and the risk of residents wandering from personal care homes.
I appreciate the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division’s response to the concern expressed by the Alzheimer’s Association, GA Chapter, in developing these rules to help ensure the safety and well-being of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive impairment. I appreciate the Board of Health’s supporting these changes to the administrative rules and regulations.

If you do send an e-mail or letter, please e-mail us and let us know!

Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation (SB22)—Please contact the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Board Members in your area and ask them to approve the inclusion of Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation (SB22) as part of their 2010 GDOT Agenda for action this upcoming Session. Please visit the GDOT website for a complete list of Board Members, district maps, meeting agendas, etc. Their website is: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/Board/Pages/BoardAgenda.aspx.

This would benefit individuals with Alzheimer’s, especially those newly diagnosed who may be beginning to have difficulty with driving and are worried about loss of independence when they lose their ability to drive—especially if their caregiver is a spouse or other individual who does not drive—this will provide another transportation option for them. This will also help to minimize costly duplication of routes and beginning and ending points as various human services agencies pass each other picking up passengers and transporting them often to some of the same facilities—doctor’s offices, banks, grocery stores, dialysis, etc.

If you do send an e-mail, please e-mail us and let us know!

Thank you for taking the action—one voice can make a difference—your VOICE does make a difference to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families!