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TITLE 26HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PART 1HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
CHAPTER 553LICENSING STANDARDS FOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
SUBCHAPTER AINTRODUCTION
RULE §553.3Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

  (1) Abuse--

    (A) For a person under 18 years of age who is not and has not been married or who has not had the disabilities of minority removed for general purposes, the term has the meaning in Texas Family Code §261.001(1), which is an intentional, knowing, or reckless act or omission by an employee, volunteer, or other individual working under the auspices of a facility or program that causes or may cause emotional harm or physical injury to, or the death of, a child served by the facility or program, as further described by rule or policy; and

    (B) For a person other than one described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the term has the meaning in Texas Health and Safety Code §260A.001(1), which is:

      (i) the negligent or willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment with resulting physical or emotional harm or pain to a resident by the resident's caregiver, family member, or other individual who has an ongoing relationship with the resident; or

      (ii) sexual abuse of a resident, including any involuntary or nonconsensual sexual conduct that would constitute an offense under Texas Penal Code §21.08 (relating to Indecent Exposure), or Texas Penal Code, Chapter 22 (relating to Assaultive Offenses), committed by the resident's caregiver, family member, or other individual who has an ongoing relationship with the resident.

  (2) Accreditation commission--Has the meaning given in Texas Health and Safety Code §247.032.

  (3) Actual harm--A negative outcome that compromises a resident's physical, mental, or emotional well-being.

  (4) Advance directive--Has the meaning given in Texas Health and Safety Code §166.002.

  (5) Affiliate--With respect to:

    (A) a partnership, each partner thereof;

    (B) a corporation, each officer, director, principal stockholder, subsidiary, or person with a disclosable interest, as the term is defined in this section; and

    (C) a natural person:

      (i) said person's spouse;

      (ii) each partnership and each partner thereof, of which said person or any affiliate of said person is a partner; and

      (iii) each corporation in which said person is an officer, director, principal stockholder, or person with a disclosable interest.

  (6) Alzheimer's Assisted Living Disclosure Statement form--The HHSC-prescribed form a facility uses to describe the nature of care or treatment of residents with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

  (7) Alzheimer's disease and related disorders--Alzheimer's disease and any other irreversible dementia described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or the most current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

  (8) Alzheimer's facility--A Type B facility that is certified to provide specialized services to residents with Alzheimer's disease or a related condition.

  (9) Applicant--A person applying for a license to operate an assisted living facility under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 247.

  (10) Assisted Living Facility Memory Care Disclosure Statement form--The HHSC-prescribed form that a facility uses when the facility advertises, markets, or otherwise promotes that it provides memory care services to residents with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

  (11) Attendant--A facility employee who provides direct care to residents. This employee may serve other functions, including cook, janitor, porter, maid, laundry worker, security personnel, bookkeeper, activity director, and manager.

  (12) Authorized electronic monitoring (AEM)--The placement of an electronic monitoring device in a resident's room and using the device to make tapes or recordings after making a request to the facility to allow electronic monitoring.

  (13) Behavioral emergency--Has the meaning given in §553.261(g)(2) of this chapter (relating to Coordination of Care).

  (14) Certified ombudsman--Has the meaning given in §88.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).

  (15) CFR--Code of Federal Regulations.

  (16) Change of ownership--An event that results in a change to the federal taxpayer identification number of the license holder of a facility. The substitution of a personal representative for a deceased license holder is not a change of ownership.

  (17) Commingles--The laundering of apparel or linens of two or more individuals together.

  (18) Controlling person--A person with the ability, acting alone or with others, to directly or indirectly influence, direct, or cause the direction of the management, expenditure of money, or policies of a facility or other person. A controlling person includes:

    (A) a management company, landlord, or other business entity that operates or contracts with others for the operation of a facility;

    (B) any person who is a controlling person of a management company or other business entity that operates a facility or that contracts with another person for the operation of an assisted living facility;

    (C) an officer or director of a publicly traded corporation that is, or that controls, a facility, management company, or other business entity described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph but does not include a shareholder or lender of the publicly traded corporation; and

    (D) any other individual who, because of a personal, familial, or other relationship with the owner, manager, landlord, tenant, or provider of a facility, is in a position of actual control or authority with respect to the facility, without regard to whether the individual is formally named as an owner, manager, director, officer, provider, consultant, contractor, or employee of the facility, except an employee, lender, secured creditor, landlord, or other person who does not exercise formal or actual influence or control over the operation of a facility.

  (19) Covert electronic monitoring--The placement and use of an electronic monitoring device that is not open and obvious, and about which the facility and HHSC have not been informed by the resident, by the person who placed the device in the room, or by a person who uses the device.

  (20) Delegation--In the assisted living facility context, written authorization by a registered nurse (RN) acting on behalf of the facility for personal care staff to perform tasks of nursing care in selected situations, where delegation criteria are met for the task. The delegation process includes nursing assessment of a resident in a specific situation, evaluation of the ability of the personal care staff, teaching the task to the personal care staff, ensuring supervision of the personal care staff in performing a delegated task, and re-evaluating the task at regular intervals.

  (21) Dietitian--A person who currently holds a license or provisional license issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

  (22) Direct ownership interest--Ownership of equity in the capital, stock, or profits of, or a membership interest in, an applicant or license holder.

  (23) Disclosable interest--Five percent or more direct or indirect ownership interest in an applicant or license holder.

  (24) Disclosure statement--An HHSC form for prospective residents or their legally authorized representatives that a facility must complete. The form contains information regarding the preadmission, admission, and discharge process; resident assessment and service plans; staffing patterns; the physical environment of the facility; resident activities; and facility services.

  (25) Electronic monitoring device--Video surveillance cameras and audio devices installed in a resident's room, designed to acquire communications or other sounds that occur in the room. An electronic, mechanical, or other device used specifically for the nonconsensual interception of wire or electronic communication is excluded from this definition.

  (26) Exploitation--

    (A) For a person under 18 years of age who is not and has not been married or who has not had the disabilities of minority removed for general purposes, the term has the meaning in Texas Family Code §261.001(3), which is the illegal or improper use of a child or of the resources of a child for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain by an employee, volunteer, or other individual working under the auspices of a facility or program as further described by rule or policy; and

Cont'd...

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