P.R. Laws tit. 17, § 1481f
(a) Administrator and services coordinator. — Every residence shall have an Administrator of proven administrative and professional capabilities, with at least a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in experience in human resources, housing administration, or in health care services.
Such Administrator shall render full time services during work hours and be not less than twenty-one (21) years old. The personnel providing personal health care services shall be not less than twenty-one (21) years old and shall comply with a training program of seventy (70) hours per year in an institution accredited to offer said training by the Higher Education Council.
In addition, all residences shall have a Services Coordinator that shall have at least a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in experience, which shall be in rendering direct services to elderly persons, and shall have at least one graduate nurse, one social worker, one occupational therapist and one psychologist, duly authorized to practice their profession rendering services to the residents in the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) Personnel records maintenance. — Every residence shall keep a personalized record of each employee and manager in which shall include a description of their tasks, and their technical or professional credentials and evaluations.
The residence shall be bound to keep at least one employee on call at all times for every eight (8) residents. In the residence, the personnel records shall be developed and maintained in a confidential manner. Said records shall contain at least the following information:
(1) Job description.
(2) Academic background and employment experience.
(3) Professional licenses or certifications, if applicable.
(4) Documentation on personnel orientations and trainings offered.
(5) Evaluations of work performance or memoranda.
(c) Personnel training. — The sponsor of the residence shall provide all personnel and contract providers who have direct contact with the residents and all food services personnel with continued training and seminars designed for the needs of the elderly persons. However, prior to commencing work in the residence, they shall take, as a minimum, an orientation of at least one (1) day on the following matters:
(1) Independent living in a residence within the conceptual framework of assisted living philosophy;
(2) rights of the residents;
(3) prevention of abuse, negligence, and financial exploitation of the elderly;
(4) safety measures and emergency management;
(5) prevention of transmittable diseases, including AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis B, management and control of infections in the residency and the principles of universal awareness based on the guidelines set forth in the Occupational Safety Health Act;
(6) communication techniques;
(7) awareness about the ageing process;
(8) solution of possible health problems of the residents;
(9) general review of the employment requirements, and
(10) sanitation and hygiene in the preparation of foods.
All personnel working in the residence shall be aware of the needs of the residents and shall be capable of responding to any emergency twenty-four (24) hours a day.
History —Sept. 3, 2003, No. 244, § 9.