[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR59.140]

[Page 893-895]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 59--GRANTS TO STATES FOR CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION OF STATE HOMES--
Table of Contents
 
Sec. 59.140  Nursing home care requirements.

    As a condition for receiving a grant and grant funds for a nursing 
home facility under this part, States must comply with the requirements 
of this section.
    (a) Resident rooms must be designed and equipped for adequate 
nursing care, comfort, and privacy of residents. Resident rooms must:
    (1) Accommodate no more than four residents;
    (2) Have direct access to an exit corridor;
    (3) Have at least one window to the outside;
    (4) Be equipped with, or located near, toilet and bathing facilities 
(VA recommends that public toilet facilities also be located near the 
residents dining and recreational areas);
    (5) Be at or above grade level;
    (6) Be designed or equipped to ensure full visual privacy for each 
resident;
    (7) Except in private rooms, each bed must have ceiling suspended 
curtains that extend around the bed to provide total visual privacy in 
combination with adjacent walls and curtains;
    (8) Have a separate bed for each resident of proper size and height 
for the safety of the resident;
    (9) Have a clean, comfortable mattress;
    (10) Have bedding appropriate to the weather and climate;
    (11) Have functional furniture appropriate to the resident's needs, 
and
    (12) Have individual closet space with clothes racks and shelves 
accessible to the resident.
    (b) Unless determined by VA as necessary to accommodate an increased 
quality of care for patients, a nursing home project may propose a 
deviation of no more than 10 percent (more or less) from the following 
net square footage for the State to be eligible for a grant of 65 
percent of the total estimated cost of the project. If the project 
proposes building more than the following net square footage and VA 
makes a determination that it is not needed, the cost of the additional 
net square footage will not be included in the estimated total cost of 
construction.

[[Page 894]]



                  Table to Paragraph (b)--Nursing Home
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Support facilities [allowable
 square feet (or metric
 equivalent) per facility for VA
 participation]:
    Administrator.................  200
    Assistant administrator.......  150
    Medical officer, director of    150
     nursing or equivalent.
    Nurse and dictation area......  120
    General administration (each    120
     office/person).
    Clerical staff (each).........  80
    Computer area.................  40
    Conference room (consultation   500 (for each room)
     area, in-service training).
    Lobby/waiting area. (150        3 (per bed)
     minimum/600 maximum per
     facility).
    Public/resident toilets (male/  25 (per fixture)
     female).
    Pharmacy \1\..................
    Dietetic service \1\..........
    Dining area...................  20 (per bed)
    Canteen/retail sales..........  2 (per bed)
    Vending machines (450 max. per  1 (per bed)
     facility).
    Resident toilets (male/female)  25 (per fixture)
    Child day care \1\............
    Medical support (staff offices/ 140 (for each room)
     exam/treatment room/family
     counseling, etc.).
    Barber and/or beauty shops....  140
    Mail room.....................  120
    Janitor's closet..............  40
    Multipurpose room.............  15 (per bed)
    Employee lockers..............  6 (per employee)
    Employee lounge (500 max. per   120
     facility).
    Employee toilets..............  25 (per fixture)
    Chapel........................  450
    Physical therapy..............  5 (per bed)
    Office, if required...........  120
    Occupational therapy..........  5 (per bed).
    Office, if required...........  120
    Library.......................  1.5 (per bed)
    Building maintenance storage..  2.5 (per bed)
    Resident storage..............  6 (per bed)
    General warehouse storage.....  6 (per bed)
    Medical/dietary/pharmacy......  7 (per bed)
    General laundry \1\...........
II. Bed units:
    One...........................  150
    Two...........................  245
    Large two-bed per unit........  305
    Four..........................  460
    Lounge areas (resident lounge   8 (per bed)
     with storage).
    Resident quiet room...........  3 (per bed)
    Clean utility.................  120
    Soiled utility................  105
    Linen storage.................  150
    General storage...............  100
    Nurses station, ward secretary  260
    Medication room...............  75
    Exam/Treatment room...........  140
    Waiting area..................  50
    Unit supply and equipment.....  50
    Staff toilet..................  25 (per fixture)
    Stretcher/wheelchair storage..  100

[[Page 895]]


    Kitchenette...................  150
    Janitor's closet..............  40
    Resident laundry..............  125
    Trash collection..............  60
III. Bathing and Toilet
 Facilities:
    (A) Private or shared
     facilities:
        Wheelchair facilities.....  25 (per fixture)
        Standard facilities.......  15 (per fixture)
    (B) Full bathroom.............  75
    (C) Congregate bathing
     facilities:
        First tub/shower..........  80
        Each additional fixture...  25
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The size to be determined by the Chief Consultant, Geriatrics and
  Extended Care, as necessary to accommodate projected patient care
  needs (must be justified by State in space program analysis).


(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 501, 1710, 1742, 8105, 8131-8137; Sections 2, 
3, 4, and 4a of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended, 
Public Law 90-480, 42 U.S.C. 4151-4157)