CALA Regulatory Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the ADA, an assisted living facility is generally required to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would:
- Require hiring additional staff
- Cause undue hardship to the facility (Correct answer)
- Change any established care routines
- Involve capital expenditure
Correct answer: Cause undue hardship to the facility
The ADA allows facilities to deny accommodations only if providing them would cause undue hardship, considering cost and operational impact.
Question 2: Which agency is primarily responsible for investigating complaints of elder abuse in assisted living facilities at the state level?
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- Adult Protective Services (APS) (Correct answer)
- State Department of Health Licensing Division
Correct answer: Adult Protective Services (APS)
Adult Protective Services investigates reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in community-based settings including assisted living.
Question 3: A facility's state license is set to expire. The administrator submits the renewal application late. What is the MOST LIKELY regulatory consequence?
- The facility may continue operating without penalty
- The facility receives an automatic 30-day extension
- The facility risks operating without a valid license and may face fines (Correct answer)
- The state must grant an extension if services continue
Correct answer: The facility risks operating without a valid license and may face fines
Operating with an expired license exposes a facility to civil penalties, citations, and possible closure depending on state law.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a Resident Bill of Rights in an assisted living facility?
- To outline the facility's liability limitations
- To establish financial billing expectations
- To define residents' legal and civil protections while in care (Correct answer)
- To document discharge criteria
Correct answer: To define residents' legal and civil protections while in care
The Resident Bill of Rights enumerates the legal protections, dignity standards, and civil rights guaranteed to individuals receiving care.
Question 5: If a resident with dementia is found to be a potential danger to themselves and others, the administrator must balance safety with which key regulatory principle?
- Cost containment
- Staff safety protocols
- Resident autonomy and least restrictive environment (Correct answer)
- Physician orders
Correct answer: Resident autonomy and least restrictive environment
Regulations require facilities to use the least restrictive approach possible, balancing safety with respect for resident autonomy.
Question 6: Under most state regulations, what is the required minimum frequency for a licensed administrator to be physically present at an assisted living facility?
- At least 8 hours per week
- As required by state law, often defined as sufficient oversight (Correct answer)
- Every day the facility is open
- 40 hours per week on-site
Correct answer: As required by state law, often defined as sufficient oversight
State regulations vary widely, but most require sufficient presence to ensure adequate oversight, which is defined by state-specific standards.
Question 7: Which type of inspection occurs without prior notice to ensure a facility is operating in compliance with regulations during normal conditions?
- Validation survey
- Complaint investigation
- Annual unannounced survey (Correct answer)
- Focused review
Correct answer: Annual unannounced survey
Annual unannounced surveys assess everyday compliance without giving facilities time to prepare, ensuring an accurate picture of operations.
CALA Regulatory Compliance 3
Under the ADA, an assisted living facility is generally required to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would: