DHS 89.13(3)(3) “Bathroom” means a room with floor to ceiling walls and a door which contains a toilet, a sink and a bathtub or shower. DHS 89.13(5)(5) “Comprehensive assessment” means a systematic procedure for identifying an individual’s physical, health and social needs; preferences; and capacity for self-care. DHS 89.13(6)(6) “Congregate housing” means multi-unit rental housing which offers limited social support for tenants, including meals in a common dining room and space for group social and recreational activities. DHS 89.13 NoteNote: Congregate housing may become a residential care apartment complex if it chooses to offer supportive, personal and nursing services.
DHS 89.13(7)(7) “Contract” means all written agreements between the tenant and the residential care apartment complex, including the service agreement, the risk agreement and any rental or sales contract. DHS 89.13(8)(8) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of health services. DHS 89.13(9)(9) “Designated representative” means anyone identified by a tenant to represent the tenant in relation to the tenant’s residential care apartment complex. A designated representative may be a family member, friend, health care agent, guardian or other person named by the tenant. DHS 89.13(10)(10) “Emergency assistance” means aid provided in the event of a situation that creates an imminent risk of serious harm to the health or safety of the person if he or she is not helped immediately. DHS 89.13(11)(11) “Functionally distinct area” means a space that can be distinguished from other areas within the apartment by its actual or intended use. A functionally distinct area need not be a separate room. DHS 89.13(12)(12) “Health monitoring” means the assessment of physical, functional and cognitive status to detect changes that may indicate health problems and to facilitate appropriate intervention. Health monitoring includes assessment of nutritional status, confusion, unsteady gait, urinary incontinence, edema of extremities, fever, hypertension and other conditions. DHS 89.13(13)(13) “Hospice care” means medical or support services for management of a terminal illness furnished by a hospice as defined in s. 50.90 (1), Stats. DHS 89.13(14)(14) “Housing for the elderly” means multi-unit rental housing that is specially designed for and marketed to older people but does not offer supportive services, personal services and nursing services to its tenants. DHS 89.13 NoteNote: Housing for the elderly may become a residential care apartment complex if it chooses to offer supportive, personal and nursing services.
DHS 89.13(15)(15) “Incapable of making care decisions” means unable to understand one’s own needs for supportive, personal or nursing services; to choose what, if any, services one wants to receive to meet those needs; and to understand the outcome likely to result from that choice. The term refers to the ability to make a decision and not to the content or result of the decision. DHS 89.13(16)(16) “Independent apartment” means an individual living unit that has its own individual lockable entrance and exit, kitchen, bathroom, sleeping and living areas. DHS 89.13(17)(17) “Individual lockable entrance and exit” means a door that provides access to an independent apartment and is equipped with an individually keyed lock which is operable from both inside and outside the unit and which the tenant can open, close and lock to ensure privacy. DHS 89.13(17m)(17m) “Involuntary administration of psychotropic medication” means any of the following: DHS 89.13(17m)(a)(a) Placing psychotropic medication in an individual’s food or drink with knowledge that the individual protests receipt of the psychotropic medication. DHS 89.13(17m)(b)(b) Forcibly restraining an individual to enable administration of psychotropic medication. DHS 89.13(17m)(c)(c) Requiring an individual to take psychotropic medication as a condition of receiving privileges or benefits. DHS 89.13(18)(18) “Kitchen” means a visually and functionally distinct area within the living unit which is intended to be used exclusively for food preparation and which contains a stove, a refrigerator, a sink, counter space for food preparation and a place for storage of utensils and supplies. DHS 89.13(19)(19) “Living area” means a visually and functionally distinct area within the living unit which is intended for general use and which is not a bathroom, kitchen or sleeping area. DHS 89.13(21)(21) “Medication administration” means giving or assisting tenants in taking prescription and nonprescription medications in the correct dosage, at the proper time and in the specified manner. DHS 89.13(22)(22) “Medication management” means oversight by a nurse, pharmacist or other health care professional to minimize risks associated with use of medications. Medication management includes proper storage of medications; preparation of a medication organization or reminder system; assessment of the effectiveness of medications; monitoring for side effects, negative reactions and drug interactions; and delegation and supervision of medication administration. DHS 89.13(24)(24) “Nursing services” means nursing procedures, excluding personal services, which, according to the provisions of ch. 441, Stats., the nurse practice act, must be performed by a registered nurse or as a delegated act under the supervision of a registered nurse. DHS 89.13(25)(25) “Personal services” means direct assistance with activities of daily living, including dressing, eating, bathing, grooming, toileting, transferring and ambulation or mobility. DHS 89.13(25g)(25g) “Protest” means make more than one discernible negative response, other than mere silence, to the offer of, recommendation for, or other proffering of voluntary receipt of psychotropic medication. “Protest” does not mean a discernible negative response to a proposed method of administration of the psychotropic medication. DHS 89.13(25r)(25r) “Psychotropic medication” means a prescription drug, as defined in s. 450.01 (20), Stats., that is used to treat or manage a psychiatric symptom or challenging behavior. DHS 89.13(26)(26) “Recuperative care” means services provided for a period of 90 days or less which are intended to assist a person in recovering from an illness, injury, surgery or other acute condition or to stabilize the health or functioning of the individual. DHS 89.13(27)(27) “Risk agreement” means a binding stipulation identifying conditions or situations which could put the tenant at risk of harm or injury and the tenant’s preference for how those conditions or situations are to be handled. DHS 89.13(28)(28) “Service agreement” means a binding stipulation between the tenant and the facility which specifies services the facility will provide and the tenant will accept. DHS 89.13(29)(29) “Sleeping area” means a visually and functionally distinct area within the living unit which is intended to be used for sleeping. A sleeping area does not include a bathroom, kitchen or living area. DHS 89.13(30)(30) “Stove” means a cooking appliance that is a microwave oven of at least 1000 watts or that consists of burners and an oven. DHS 89.13(31)(31) “Supportive services” means assistance with tasks which the tenant cannot perform for himself or herself as a result of functional limitations, or one-on-one supervision of the tenant. Supportive services include meals, housekeeping, laundry, arranging for transportation and arranging for access to medical services. DHS 89.13(32)(32) “Tenant” means an individual who resides in and has a service agreement with a residential care apartment complex. DHS 89.13(33)(33) “Unscheduled care need” means any need for supportive, personal or nursing services the timing of which cannot be predicted, such as incontinence care. Unscheduled care needs do not include the need for emergency assistance. DHS 89.13(34)(34) “Visually distinct area” means a space which can be distinguished from other areas within the apartment by sight. A visually distinct area need not be a separate room. DHS 89.13 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1997, No. 494, eff. 3-1-97; am. (30), Register, November, 1998, No. 515, eff. 12-1-98; CR 07-042: cr. (17m), (25g) and (25r) Register October 2007 No. 622, eff. 11-1-0; corrections in (8) and (20) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6. and 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635. DHS 89.14DHS 89.14 Registration or certification requirement. All residential care apartment complexes shall be either registered or certified by the department under this chapter. DHS 89.15DHS 89.15 Limitation on use of name “residential care apartment complex”. As provided in s. 50.034 (5), Stats., an entity that does not meet the definition of residential care apartment complex under s. 50.01 (6d), Stats., may not designate itself as a residential care apartment complex or use the words “residential care apartment complex” to represent or tend to represent the entity as a residential care apartment complex or services provided by the entity as services provided by a residential care apartment complex. DHS 89.15 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1997, No. 494, eff. 3-1-97; am. Register, November, 1998, No. 515, eff. 12-1-98; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2015 No. 710. DHS 89.21DHS 89.21 Applicability. The provisions of this subchapter apply to all residential care apartment complexes. DHS 89.22(1)(1) Compliance with applicable codes. A residential care apartment complex shall comply with all applicable statutes, rules and regulations. DHS 89.22 NoteNote: The Wisconsin department of safety and professional services considers residential care apartment complexes to be multifamily dwellings subject to the code in effect at the time of construction.
DHS 89.22(2)(a)(a) Independent apartments. All living units in a residential care apartment complex shall be independent apartments. DHS 89.22(2)(b)(b) Physical features. Each independent apartment shall have at least the following: DHS 89.22(2)(b)1.1. An individual lockable entrance and exit. A single door may serve as both entrance and exit. Keys to the door to the independent apartment and to the residential care apartment complex shall be supplied to the tenant. DHS 89.22(2)(b)2.2. A kitchen. The kitchen shall be a visually and functionally distinct area within the apartment. The refrigerator shall have a freezer compartment. The sink shall have hot and cold running water. The stove shall be designed so that it can be disconnected, if necessary, for tenant safety. DHS 89.22(2)(b)3.3. An individual bathroom. The bathroom shall not be shared with or accessed from any other living unit. DHS 89.22(2)(b)4.4. Sleeping and living areas. The sleeping and living areas shall each be visually and functionally distinct areas within the apartment but need not be separate rooms. These areas shall contain sufficient space so that the tenant does not have to either sleep in the living area or use the sleeping area for eating, socializing or other general living uses and so that the tenant has the ability, if he or she so wishes, to arrange furniture in a way that provides some visual privacy for the sleeping area. DHS 89.22(2)(c)1.1. Each apartment shall contain a minimum of 250 square feet of interior floor space, excluding closets. DHS 89.22(2)(c)2.2. Each independent apartment shall be of adequate size and configuration to permit tenants to carry out, with or without assistance, all the functions necessary for independent living, including sleeping; sitting; dressing; personal hygiene; storing, preparing, serving and eating food; storing clothing and other personal possessions; doing personal correspondence and paperwork; and entertaining visitors. DHS 89.22(2)(d)(d) Multiple occupancy. Multiple occupancy of an independent apartment shall be limited to a spouse or a roommate chosen at the initiative of the tenant. DHS 89.22(2)(e)1.1. In this paragraph, “variance” means permission to meet a requirement by an alternative means. A variance granted under this paragraph shall not exempt a facility from any other applicable rule, regulation or ordinance. DHS 89.22(2)(e)2.2. The department may grant a variance to the minimum floor space requirement under par. (c) 1. provided that the variance does not reduce the minimum floor space requirement under par. (c) 1. by more than 10%. DHS 89.22(2)(e)3.3. A variance may be granted only when a building or portion of a building constructed or under construction prior to the effective date of this rule is converted to a residential care apartment complex and the variance does not adversely affect the ability of the residential care apartment complex to meet the tenants’ needs and does not jeopardize the health, safety or independence of the tenants. DHS 89.22(2)(e)4.4. A request for a variance shall be submitted to the department in writing and shall identify the requirement from which the variance is requested, the justification for the variance, and the alternative means by which the facility will meet the intent of the requirement. The department shall respond in writing to a request for a variance. DHS 89.22 NoteNote: A request for a variance should be sent to: Bureau of Quality Assurance, Division of Disability and Elder Services, P.O. Box 7851, Madison, WI 53707.
DHS 89.22(3)(3) Accessibility of public and common use areas. All public and common use areas of a residential care apartment complex shall be accessible to and useable by tenants who use a wheelchair or other mobility aid consistent with the accessibility standards contained in ch. SPS 362. All areas for tenant use within the facility shall be accessible from indoors. DHS 89.22(4)(a)(a) Physical and programmatic separation. A residential care apartment complex shall be both physically and programmatically distinct from any nursing home, community-based residential facility or hospital to which it is attached or of which it is a part. DHS 89.22 NoteNote: This does not require separation between a residential care apartment complex and congregate housing, housing for the elderly or other purely residential use. For example, residential care apartment complex apartments may be interspersed with non-assisted living apartment units in the same building and a residential care apartment complex may share dining room and other common space with an attached apartment building.
DHS 89.22(4)(b)(b) Physical separation. Tenants shall not be required to first enter or pass through a portion of the health care facility or community-based residential facility in order to enter a residential care apartment complex. Similarly, people shall not be required to pass through the residential care apartment complex in order to enter a health care facility or community-based residential facility. A residential care apartment complex may share a common lobby and access area of a multipurpose building and may be entered via elevator from the lobby or access area. A dining room or activity area may be shared, provided it is not scheduled for concurrent use by residents of the health care facility or community-based residential facility and tenants of the residential care apartment complex. DHS 89.22(4)(c)(c) Program separation. Residential care apartment complex services shall be made available in the residential care apartment complex. Tenants of the residential care apartment complex shall not be required to go to a community-based residential facility or health care facility to receive supportive, personal or nursing services included in the service agreement. Nor shall tenants of a health care facility or community-based residential facility be required to receive services in a residential care apartment complex. DHS 89.22 NoteNote: This requirement does not prohibit voluntary sharing of activities; sharing of other services, such as physical therapy; sharing of administrative functions; or sharing of the space devoted to such activities, services or functions with the attached facility. Neither does it restrict sharing of space or activities with congregate housing, housing for the elderly or other purely residential uses.
DHS 89.22 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1997, No. 494, eff. 3-1-97; am. Register, November, 1998, No. 515, eff. 12-1-98; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2004 No. 588; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673. DHS 89.23(1)(1) General requirement. A residential care apartment complex shall provide or contract for services that are sufficient and qualified to meet the care needs identified in the tenant service agreements, to meet unscheduled care needs of its tenants and to make emergency assistance available 24 hours a day. DHS 89.23(2)(a)1.1. In this paragraph, “capacity to provide” means that the facility is able to provide the minimum required services to any tenant who needs or develops a need for those services. DHS 89.23 NoteNote: A residential care apartment complex should be able to respond to changes in its tenants’ need for the minimum required services by revising the service agreements and, if necessary, by either adjusting its staffing plan or contracting for services from other providers.
DHS 89.23(2)(a)2.2. A residential care apartment complex shall have the capacity to provide all of the following services to all tenants, either directly or under contract: DHS 89.23(2)(a)2.a.a. Supportive services: meals, housekeeping in tenants’ apartments, laundry service and arranging access to medical services. In this subparagraph, “access” means arranging for medical services and transportation to medical services. DHS 89.23(2)(a)2.b.b. Personal services: daily assistance with all activities of daily living which include dressing, eating, bathing, grooming, toileting, transferring and ambulation or mobility. DHS 89.23(2)(a)2.c.c. Nursing services: health monitoring, medication administration and medication management. DHS 89.23(2)(a)3.3. A residential care apartment complex shall ensure that sufficient services are available to meet care needs identified in each tenant’s service agreement. DHS 89.23(2)(a)4.4. Services above the minimum required levels may be made available at the option of the facility. DHS 89.23(2)(a)5.5. A facility is not required to provide or be staffed to provide services which are not needed, are not included in the service agreements or are above the minimum required levels.
