. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Oct 28.

Published in final edited form as: J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013 Nov 13;15(1):47–53. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.09.011

Table 5.

Policy options to address identified infection control gaps in Assisted Living Facility regulations

Policy options
States regulations should specify levels of on-site care that are appropriate for an ALF setting under different sets of conditions and staffing arrangements, with clear references to state nurse practice standards and related delegation authorities State regulations should specify adherence to the CDC Standard Precautions guideline^* or otherwise outline basic infection control activities to protect ALF residents from preventable illness require facilities to implement an infection control plan, preferably under the direction of a licensed healthcare professional, with staff training upon hire and at least annually thereafter include assessment of infection control practices as part of facility inspections State regulations should prescribe infection control training for ALF and Home Health Agency staff who may assist with the medical care of a resident. For example, states should develop policies and standards surrounding assisted monitoring of blood glucose. States may also wish to consider strengthening ALF regulations regarding staff sick leave and immunization policies^** and outbreak reporting

Policy options

States regulations should specify levels of on-site care that are appropriate for an ALF setting under different sets of conditions and staffing arrangements, with clear references to state nurse practice standards and related delegation authorities
State regulations should
1. specify adherence to the CDC Standard Precautions guideline^* or otherwise outline basic infection control activities to protect ALF residents from preventable illness
2. require facilities to implement an infection control plan, preferably under the direction of a licensed healthcare professional, with staff training upon hire and at least annually thereafter
3. include assessment of infection control practices as part of facility inspections
State regulations should prescribe infection control training for ALF and Home Health Agency staff who may assist with the medical care of a resident. For example, states should develop policies and standards surrounding assisted monitoring of blood glucose.
States may also wish to consider strengthening ALF regulations regarding staff sick leave and immunization policies^** and outbreak reporting

Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings

^**

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization of Health-care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2011;60(No. RR—7): 1–45.