Section 481.58.1. Definitions.

For the purpose of these rules, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated in this chapter. The definitions set out in Iowa Code section 135C.1 shall be considered to be incorporated verbatim in the rules. The use of the words “shall” and “must” indicates those standards are mandatory. The use of the words “should” and “could” indicates those standards are recommended.

“Accommodation” means the provision of lodging, including sleeping, dining, and living areas.

“Administrator” means a person licensed pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 147 who administers, manages, supervises, and is in general administrative charge of a nursing facility, whether or not such individual has an ownership interest in such facility, and whether or not the functions and duties are shared with one or more individuals.

“Ambulatory” means the condition of a person who immediately and without aid of another is physically or mentally capable of traveling a normal path to safety, including the ascent and descent of stairs.

“Basement” means that part of a building where the finish floor is more than 30 inches below the finish grade.

“Board” means the regular provision of meals.

“Chairfast” means capable of maintaining a sitting position but lacking the capacity of bearing own weight, even with the aid of a mechanical device or another individual.

“Communicable disease” means a disease caused by the presence of viruses or microbial agents within a person’s body, which agents may be transmitted either directly or indirectly to other persons.

“Department” means the state department of inspections and appeals.

“Distinct part” means a clearly identifiable area or section within a health care facility, consisting of at least a residential unit, wing, floor, or building containing contiguous rooms.

“Medication” means any drug including over-the-counter substances ordered and administered under the direction of the physician.

“Nonambulatory” means the condition of a person who immediately and without aid of another is not physically or mentally capable of traveling a normal path to safety, including the ascent and descent of stairs.

“Nourishing snack” is defined as a verbal offering of items, single or in combination, from the basic food groups. Adequacy of the “nourishing snack” will be determined both by resident interviews and by evaluation of the overall nutritional status of residents in the facility.

“Person directed care environment” means the provision of care and services provided in a facility that promotes decision making and choices by the resident, enhances the primary caregiver’s capacity to respond to each resident’s needs, and promotes a homelike environment. Examples of a person directed care environment include, but are not limited to, the Green House concept, the Eden alternative, service houses and neighborhoods.

“Personal care” means assistance with the activities of daily living which the recipient can perform only with difficulty. Examples are assistance in getting in and out of bed, assistance with personal hygiene and bathing, assistance with dressing, meal assistance, and supervision over medications which can be self-administered.

“Potentially hazardous food” means a food that is natural or synthetic and that requires temperature control because it is in a form capable of supporting the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms, the growth and toxin production of clostridium botulinum, or in raw shell eggs, the growth of salmonella enteritidis. Potentially hazardous food includes an animal food (a food of animal origin) that is raw or heat-treated; a food of plant origin that is heat-treated or consists of raw seed sprouts; cut melons; and garlic and oil mixtures that are not acidified or otherwise modified at a food processing plant in a way that results in mixtures that do not support growth of bacteria.

“Primary care provider” means any of the following who provide primary care and meet certification standards:

            1.      A physician who is a family or general practitioner or an internist.

            2.      An advanced registered nurse practitioner.

            3.      A physician assistant.

“Program of care” means all services being provided for a resident in a health care facility.

“Qualified intellectual disabilities professional” means a psychologist, physician, registered nurse, educator, social worker, physical or occupational therapist, speech therapist or audiologist who meets the educational requirements for the profession, as required in the state of Iowa, and having one year’s experience working with persons with an intellectual disability.

“Qualified nurse” means a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, as defined in Iowa Code chapter 152.

“Rate” means that daily fee charged for all residents equally and shall include the cost of all minimum services required in these rules and regulations.

“Responsible party” means the person who signs or cosigns the admission agreement required in 481—58.13(135C) or the resident’s guardian or conservator if one has been appointed. In the event that a resident does not have a guardian, conservator or other person signing the admission agreement, the term “responsible party” shall include the resident’s sponsoring agency, e.g., the department of human services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, religious groups, fraternal organizations, or foundations that assume responsibility and advocate for their client patients and pay for their health care.

“Restraints” means any chemical, manual method or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached to the resident’s body that the individual cannot remove easily which restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one’s body.

“Substantial evening meal” is defined as an offering of three or more menu items at one time, one of which includes a high protein such as meat, fish, eggs or cheese. The meal would represent no less than 20 percent of the day’s total nutritional requirements.

[ARC 0766C, IAB 5/29/13, effective 7/3/13; ARC 1398C, IAB 4/2/14, effective 5/7/14; ARC 1752C, IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15]