Virginia Law

A. Each independent living program must demonstrate that a structured program using materials and curriculum, approved by the department, is being used to teach independent living skills. The curriculum must include information regarding each of the following areas:

1. Money management and consumer awareness;

2. Food management;

3. Personal appearance;

4. Social skills;

5. Health/sexuality;

6. Housekeeping;

7. Transportation;

8. Educational planning/career planning;

9. Job-seeking skills;

10. Job maintenance skills;

11. Emergency and safety skills;

12. Knowledge of community resources;

13. Interpersonal skills/social relationships;

14. Legal skills;

15. Leisure activities; and

16. Housing.

B. Within 14 days of placement the provider must complete an assessment, including strengths and needs, of the resident's life skills using an independent living assessment tool approved by the department. The assessment must cover the following areas:

1. Money management and consumer awareness;

2. Food management;

3. Personal appearance;

4. Social skills;

5. Health/sexuality;

6. Housekeeping;

7. Transportation;

8. Educational planning/career planning;

9. Job-seeking skills;

10. Job maintenance skills;

11. Emergency and safety skills;

12. Knowledge of community resources;

13. Interpersonal skills/social relationships;

14. Legal skills;

15. Leisure activities; and

16. Housing.

C. The resident's individualized service plan shall, in addition to the requirements found in 12VAC35-105-750, address each of the following areas, as applicable:

1. Money management and consumer awareness;

2. Food management;

3. Personal appearance;

4. Social skills;

5. Health/sexuality;

6. Housekeeping;

7. Transportation;

8. Educational planning/career planning;

9. Job-seeking skills;

10. Job maintenance skills;

11. Emergency and safety skills;

12. Knowledge of community resources;

13. Interpersonal skills/social relationships;

14. Legal skills;

15. Leisure activities; and

16. Housing.

D. Each independent living program shall develop and implement policies and procedures to train all direct care staff within 14 days of employment on the content of the independent living curriculum, the use of the independent living materials, the application of the assessment tool, and the documentation methods used. Documentation of the orientation shall be kept in the employee's staff record.

E. If residents age 18 years or older are to share in the responsibility for their own medication with the provider, the independent living program shall develop and implement written policies and procedures that include:

1. Training for the resident in self administration of medication and recognition of side effects;

2. Method for storage and safekeeping of medication;

3. Method for obtaining approval for the resident to self administer medication from a person authorized by law to prescribe medication; and

4. Method for documenting the administration of medication.

F. Each independent living program shall develop and implement written policies and procedures that ensure that each resident is receiving adequate nutrition as required in 12VAC35-46-860.