Alabama
A license is required to provide residence and personal care to three or more individuals who need help with activities of daily living. Licenses are issued by size: group assisted living facilities (up to 16 residents) and congregate facilities (17 or more); family facilities (2-3 residents) are grandfathered and no new family licenses are issued. Specialty care assisted living facilities are separately licensed and staffed to serve residents with cognitive impairment such as dementia.
License categories
Assisted living facility (group, congregate; family grandfathered)Specialty care assisted living facility
Key laws
Ala. Admin. Code ch. 420-5-4
Assisted Living Facilities — official text
Ala. Admin. Code ch. 420-5-20
Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities — official text
Code of Ala. 1975, ยง 22-21-20 et seq.
Licensing of hospitals and health care facilities (statutory authority)
Key requirements
- Administrator must be licensed by the Alabama Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators (20-hour Board-approved course and two-part exam; specialty care administrators need a 30-hour course plus 8 hours of dementia training)
- Staff with resident contact must be trained before contact (resident rights, abuse/neglect recognition, fire safety, dementia signs) and be CPR-certified
- Facility may not hire anyone listed on the ADPH Nurse Aide Abuse Registry; TB evaluation within 30 days of hire
- Only licensed nurses (RN/LPN) may administer medications, per physician orders
Sources
- https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/chapter/420-5-4
- https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/api/chapter/420-5-20
- https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/descriptions.html
- https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/rules.html
- https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/complaints.html
- https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/
- https://boeala.alabama.gov/qualifications/