Do ALF doors have to remain closed at all times?

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DTBIC92 Asked February 20, 2025

Do ALF doors have to remain closed at all times?

My mom is 92 and is in a facility (private home which serves as an ALF) with just 4-5 other women. She is very well cared for. A few weeks ago, I noticed that the doors of the patients' bedrooms were closed. The owner told me that it was because ACA required the doors to remain shut. They had always kept them open, unless they were undressing or doing anything else where privacy was necessary. My mom is bedridden and never gets out of bed. (They cannot use a lift because of the type of facility she is in.) She has shown a great deal of anxiety since the door has been closed. She is claustrophobic to begin with, and I think she feels trapped. Other than the staff, she receives very few guests. Any advice on this matter would be helpful. Thank you.

Anxiety Assisted Living Dementia Wandering Mental Health

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score 0 · Answer 1

Makes job easier for the employees.

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🙄

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score 1 · Answer 2

I would think ACA probably refers to the affordable care act with its many amendments and regulations. In Grandma Kay’s opinion only - well meaning one size fits all rules, many based on an outlier situation- that impede good/individual care more often than they improve it and definitely do not give attention to what makes the best sense for a given individual.

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score 0 · Answer 3

At the ccrc my dh worked at, any resident could leave their door open unless it was fire inspection day. Meaning that, really, fire wanted these doors closed all the time but were only going to enforce it that one day.

Last year, a resident refused to shut his door for the two hour inspection even when asked to by the facilities Gus and even firefighters themselves. The whole facility was downgraded for not being compliant. The condo owner was sent notice he was against hoa rules and could be evicted.

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score 0 · Answer 4

Not sure why a health organization would have anything to do with this?

It may be a Fire thing? Fire travels faster when doors are open. 8

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score 0 · Answer 5

It really depends on the facility

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score 1 · Answer 6

The rule in my parents AL was that the doors to each residents apartment were to remain closed at all times. We are a forum of caregivers to loved ones from around the world and would have no way of knowing what the rules are pertaining to your mother's care facility. You'd be best off checking the laws in your state or with the Ombudsmen who's number should be publicly displayed at the home.

Good luck to you.

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Thank you. That is good advice. Her facility is in Miami, FL.

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score 3 · Answer 7

I would call the agency that has this "apparent rule". I have personally never heard of it, myself, and it is sounding like an excuse, something done for some reason by this facility, or some "other" reason.

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I am definitely following up with a call to ACA. Thank you for your help.

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score 1 · Answer 8

That does not seem safe. Residents could have a medical emergency and not be seen or heard by the staff. It seems that residents should have a choice.

By ACA do you mean American Caregiver Association? You could either ask the staff to show you where in writing the ACA requires this, or contact the ACA directly and ask.

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I am worried that she will need someone, and will not be heard, as you mentioned. Like I said, she receives amazing care, but people can't hear what's going on in the bedrooms if they are not very close by. I am going to contact ACA (American Caregiver Association) for clarification, but wanted to hear what's going on in other places. Thank you for your help.

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Do ALF doors have to remain closed at all times?

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