(1) The Home Care Counselor shall conduct a home study, an assessment of the home environment and physical surroundings in which the Home Care for Disabled Adults applicant or home care client currently resides or intends to reside with the provider, to determine the fitness of the private residential home, in keeping with the assessed needs of the applicant or home care client and the standards as established for this Program. The Home Care Counselor shall note any condition that he or she believes may pose a physical danger to the home care client, shall formulate a written recommendation as to case approval or denial, and shall submit this recommendation, with accompanying documentation, to the designated district, regional, or zone authority for final review and decision. The home study is completed at least annually.
    (2) Home study standards shall include:
    (a) General.
    1. The home shall be a family-type dwelling occupied as the primary residence of the home care provider and shall serve as the primary domicile of the home care client.
    2. Floors and furnishings shall be free of unsanitary conditions that would attract rodents, vermin, and insects.
    3. The yard and area surrounding the residence shall be free of litter and refuse that could serve as breeding areas for insects, vermin, and rodents.
    4. Windows shall be covered or screened to secure the residence from flies and insects.
    5. There shall be at least one telephone with 9-1-1 capability that is operational and that is hard-wired into the home; or at least one cellular telephone with 9-1-1 capability that is operational, audible, and functions inside the home; or a written emergency plan describing how an emergency will be handled without immediate telephone access, shall be developed by the provider. This emergency plan shall be approved by district or regional Adult Services Program Office or zone staff.
    (b) Bedroom.
    1. Bedding and linens shall be provided and shall be clean and changed as dictated by the physical condition of the home care client.
    2. There shall be two means of egress from the bedroom occupied by the home care client. This may include a window which may be used by the home care client for exiting the bedroom in case of an emergency.
    (c) Bathroom.
    1. The primary bathroom that is used by the home care client shall have a toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower, all in working order.
    2. Portable toilets may be utilized provided waste is disposed of by a sanitary method.
    3. There shall be arrangements for bathing the home care client, based on the home care client’s physical condition and functional ability, including bathing facilities with hot and cold running water available for the home care client.
    4. Soap, clean towels, and washcloths shall be provided.
    (d) Food Preparation and Dining Areas.
    1. Food preparation and food storage areas shall be clean, dry, free of odors, free of rodents, and free of infestation of insects and vermin.
    2. Homes shall have kitchen facilities necessary for perishable food storage and meal preparation.
    (e) Fire Protection.
    1. An operating smoke detector shall be present in each dwelling.
    2. Flammable materials such as gasoline, paint, lacquer and paint thinner, alcohol, oxygen, turpentine, contact cement, charcoal, lighter fluid, and cleaning fluids shall be stored away from sources of heat and shall be stored outside or away from the kitchen and other inside living areas of the main residence. They shall not be stored in a garage if a fuel-burning appliance is located in the garage.
    3. Combustible materials such as newspapers and rags shall not be stored near a furnace, hot water heater, space heater, or other sources of heat.
    4. Frayed, cracked, or broken electrical wiring and extension cords shall be removed and replaced. Extension cords shall not extend from one room to another. No more than two extension cords shall be used at one time in multi-outlet adapters.
    5. Electric space heating units shall bear the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label. Kerosene heaters, unvented gas, and unvented oil heaters are prohibited. Only vented heaters, which shall be properly vented to the outside, or shall be so constructed as to not require venting, are permitted. The use of a propane heater (liquefied petroleum – LP) which has a gas cylinder stored in the body of the heater or other types of self-contained fuel supplies are prohibited. Only heaters which are stable and constructed so as not to tip over are permitted.
    (f) Firearms. Firearms and ammunition shall be stored separately from each other in locked storage areas.
Specific Authority 410.033 FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 410.034. History-New 5-3-81, Amended 2-11-82, Formerly 10A-9.07, Amended 6-11-91, Formerly 10A-9.007, Amended 8-13-00, 1-23-05.