NAC449.226. Safety requirements for residents with restricted mobility or poor eyesight; water hazards; auditory systems for bathrooms and bedrooms; access by vehicles.

     1. A resident of a residential facility who uses a wheelchair or a walker must not be required to use a bedroom on a floor other than the first floor of the facility that is entirely above the level of the ground, unless the facility is designed and equipped in such a manner that the resident can move between floors without assistance.

     2. Stairways, inclines, ramps, open porches and other areas that are potentially hazardous for residents who have poor eyesight must be adequately lighted.

     3. If a residential facility with a resident who is mentally or physically disabled has a fishpond, pool, hot tub, jacuzzi or other body of water on the premises of the facility, the body of water must be fenced, covered or blocked in some other manner at all times when it is not being used by a resident.

     4. In a residential facility with more than 10 residents:

     (a) Each resident must be provided with, or the bedroom and bathroom of each resident must be equipped with, an auditory system that is monitored by a member of the staff of the facility.

     (b) An auditory system must be available for use in the bathroom of each resident of the facility if the facility was issued its initial license on or after January 14, 1997, so that a resident needing assistance can alert a member of the staff of the facility of that fact from the toilet and the shower.

     (c) A bathroom that is located in a common area of the facility must be equipped with an auditory system that is monitored by a member of the staff of the facility.

     5. Residential facilities must be easily accessible by vehicle in the case of an emergency.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R003-97, eff. 10-30-97; A by R052-99, 9-27-99)