Virginia Law

A. Physical accommodations requirements include:

1. The home shall have appropriate space and furnishings for each adult receiving care, including:

a. Space to keep clothing and other personal belongings;

b. Accessible and adequate basin and toilet facilities;

c. Comfortable sleeping or napping furnishings;

d. For adults unable to use stairs unassisted, sleeping space on the first floor of the home;

e. Adequate space for recreational activities; and

f. Sufficient space and equipment for food preparation, service, and proper storage.

2. All rooms used by adults shall be heated in winter, dry, and well-ventilated.

3. All doors and windows used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened.

4. Rooms used by adults shall have adequate lighting for activities and the comfort of adults.

5. The home shall have a working telephone that the adult shall be permitted to use.

6. The home shall be in compliance with all local ordinances.

7. Additional standards for adult foster care include:

a. No more than two adults shall share a sleeping room unless they request, or if applicable, each adult's responsible person requests and annually consents in writing, which includes by electronic mail, to sharing such a sleeping arrangement.

b. There shall be space in the household for privacy outside of the sleeping rooms for the adult to entertain visitors and talk privately.

c. There shall be at least one toilet, one basin, and one tub or shower for every five persons residing in the home.

B. Home safety requirements include:

1. The home and grounds shall be free from litter and debris and present no safety hazards.

2. The provider shall permit a fire inspection of the home by appropriate authorities if conditions indicate a need for approval and the local department requests it.

3. The provider shall have a written emergency plan that includes fire and natural disasters. The provider shall rehearse the plan at least twice per year and review the plan with each new adult admitted to the home. The written plan shall be provided to the local department upon request.

4. The provider shall ensure the adult can be safely evacuated from all living spaces during an emergency. The provider shall include emergency evacuation procedures in the written emergency plan and shall consider the adult's ability to ambulate during an emergency.

5. Possession of any weapons, including firearms, in the home shall be in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. The provider shall store all weapons, firearms, and ammunition owned by the provider or other household members in a manner that prohibits access by the adult. If the provider permits an adult to possess weapons, firearms, or ammunition in the home, the provider shall have a written policy detailing such permissions, and the provider shall require the adult to safely store all weapons, firearms, or ammunition. The provider may have a written policy prohibiting all weapons, firearms, and ammunition in the home, and the provider may choose not to accept into care an adult if the adult possesses weapons, firearms, or ammunition.

6. The provider shall protect adults from household pets that may be a health or safety hazard. Household pets shall be inoculated as required by state or local ordinances. Documentation of inoculations shall be made available upon local department request.

7. The provider shall keep cleaning supplies and other toxic substances stored away from food and out of the reach of adults receiving care.

8. The provider shall provide and maintain at least one approved, properly installed, and operable battery-operated smoke detector, at a minimum, in each sleeping area and on each additional floor. Existing installations that have been approved by the state or local fire marshal are exempted from this requirement.

C. Sanitation requirements include:

1. The provider shall permit an inspection of the home's private water supply and sewage disposal system by the local health department if conditions indicate a need for approval and the local department requests it.

2. The home and grounds shall be free of garbage, debris, insects, and rodents that would present a hazard to the health of adults.

D. Capacity standards include:

1. The provider shall not exceed the maximum allowable capacity for the type of care provided and approved by the local department.

2. The adult foster care provider shall not accept more than three adults for the purpose of receiving room, board, supervision, or special services, regardless of relationship of any adult to the provider.

E. The adult foster care provider shall display the Adult Protective Services hotline number and the toll free number of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman in a manner and method accessible to adults in the home.