Assisted living facility minimum staffing requirements by US state — how many staff must be on duty, and what that guarantees
State-by-state comparison of minimum staffing requirements for assisted living facilities (distinct from nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities, which run under a separate federal-plus-state regime). Assisted living regulation is entirely state-run — there is no federal minimum — and states take genuinely different regulatory approaches, not just different numbers on the same form: North Carolina sets a headcount rule that scales by facility census (13-20 residents requires an administrator or manager within 500 feet plus at least one awake staff member per shift, with specific carve-outs for when housekeeping duties may or may not be combined with care duties); Georgia sets a flat always-present rule (at least two trained staff present at all times any resident is present, with at least one per occupied floor), a 1:15 waking / 1:20 non-waking awake direct-care ratio, banded on-site nurse hours, and separate continuing-education hour requirements (24 hours in year one, 16 hours annually after); Florida runs a facility-size-banded staff-hours-per-week table (total weekly staff hours required scale with combined resident/day-care/respite census, with an incremental add-on above 95). One record per distinct rule, so a facility of a given size can be looked up directly. Answers 'how many caregivers are legally required to be on duty at my parent's assisted living facility', and 'what's the difference between assisted living staffing rules and nursing home staffing rules'.
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The data
| State | Which rule this is | Type of staffing rule | Minimum staffing requirement | Regulatory citation | Staff training or continuing education requirement | Awake/awake-on-duty requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0-5 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 168 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 16-25 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 253 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 26-35 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 294 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 36-45 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 335 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 46-55 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 375 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 56-65 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 416 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 6-15 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 212 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 66-75 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 457 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 76-85 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 498 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | 86-95 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — minimum staff hours per week | weekly staff-hours table | 539 | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | a First Aid and CPR certified staff member must be in the facility at all times | flat presence requirement | A staff member who has completed courses in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and holds a currently valid card documenting completion of such courses must be in the facility at all times | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | completed courses in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and holds a currently valid card documenting completion of such courses | |
| North Carolina | all adult care homes — duty to staff to the resident census, and never to leave residents alone | census-banded minimum staff on duty | Adult care homes shall staff based on the facility's resident census and provide staffing to meet the care and supervision needs of the residents in accordance with the rules of this Subchapter | 10A NCAC 13F .0605 | ||
| North Carolina | all adult care homes — required supervisors and aides per shift must be posted where residents and visitors can see them | staffing records and disclosure | The facility shall post daily staffing information in a location accessible to residents and visitors in accordance with G.S. 131D-4.3(a)(5) | 10A NCAC 13F .0605 | ||
| Georgia | annual continuing education hours from the second year of employment onwards | training requirement | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of job-related continuing education | ||
| Georgia | at least two trained staff present at all times any residents are present, one per occupied floor | flat presence requirement | must be present in the assisted living community at all times any residents are present, with at least one staff person on each occupied floor | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Georgia | average monthly minimum awake direct care staff-to-resident ratio, waking and non-waking hours | staff-to-resident ratio | an average monthly minimum on-site staff to resident ratio of one awake direct care staff person per 15 residents during waking hours and one awake direct care staff person per 20 residents during non-waking hours where the residents have minimal care needs | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | one awake direct care staff person per 15 residents during waking hours and one awake direct care staff person per 20 residents during non-waking hours | |
| North Carolina | census of greater than 12 but less than 21 residents — administrator or manager presence | census-banded minimum staff on duty | there shall be an administrator or manager in the facility or within 500 feet of the facility with a means of two-way telecommunication at all times | 10A NCAC 13F .0607 | ||
| North Carolina | census of greater than 12 but less than 21 residents — one awake staff member on every shift when the administrator or manager is not on duty | census-banded minimum staff on duty | there shall be at least one awake staff member on duty on the first, second, and third shifts | 10A NCAC 13F .0607 | there shall be at least one awake staff member on duty on the first, second, and third shifts | |
| North Carolina | census of greater than six but less than 13 residents — administrator or manager presence | census-banded minimum staff on duty | there shall be an administrator or manager in the facility or within 500 feet of the facility with a means of two-way telecommunication at all times | 10A NCAC 13F .0606 | ||
| North Carolina | census of greater than six but less than 13 residents — staff on duty when the administrator or manager is not on duty | census-banded minimum staff on duty | there shall be at least one staff member on-duty on the first and second shifts and at least one staff member available within the building, who need not be on-duty, on third shift | 10A NCAC 13F .0606 | If there are residents in the facility who are disoriented or known to have wandering behavior, there shall be at least one staff member on-duty and awake at all times | |
| North Carolina | cluster of adjacent facilities each with capacity or census of 12 or fewer residents | census-banded minimum staff on duty | When there is a cluster of up to six licensed facilities located adjacently, there shall be at least one administrator or manager who lives within 500 feet of each of the facilities with a means of two- way telecommunication at all times | 10A NCAC 13F .0606 | ||
| Georgia | communities with 31 to 60 residents — on-site registered or licensed practical nurse hours | banded professional coverage hours | For communities with 31 to 60 residents, a minimum of 16 hours per week | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Georgia | communities with 61 to 90 residents — on-site registered or licensed practical nurse hours | banded professional coverage hours | For communities with 61 to 90 residents, a minimum of 24 hours per week | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Georgia | communities with more than 90 residents — on-site registered or licensed practical nurse hours | banded professional coverage hours | For communities with more than 90 residents, a minimum of 40 hours per week | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Georgia | communities with one to 30 residents — on-site registered or licensed practical nurse hours | banded professional coverage hours | For communities with one to 30 residents, a minimum of 8 hours per week | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Georgia | continuing education hours required during the first year of employment as a direct care worker | training requirement | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | a total of at least twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education within the first year of employment as a direct care worker | ||
| Florida | enough qualified staff regardless of the minimum hours table, including apartment-style facilities | flat presence requirement | all facilities, including those composed of apartments, must have enough qualified staff to provide resident supervision, and to provide or arrange for resident services in accordance with the residents' scheduled and unscheduled service needs, resident contracts, and resident care standards | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | facilities co-located with a nursing home may share staff, but the hours count only once | counting rule | Facilities that are co-located with a nursing home may use shared staffing provided that staff hours are only counted once for the purpose of meeting either assisted living facility or nursing home minimum staffing ratios | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | facilities with 17 or more residents — a staff member must be awake around the clock | flat presence requirement | In facilities with 17 or more residents, there must be at least one staff member awake at all hours of the day and night | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | In facilities with 17 or more residents, there must be at least one staff member awake at all hours of the day and night | |
| Florida | independent living residents are excluded from the census used to compute minimum staff hours | counting rule | are not counted as residents for purposes of computing minimum staff hours | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Georgia | initial training deadline for all staff, whatever their role | training requirement | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | receives training within the first 60 days of employment | ||
| Georgia | initial training deadline for staff providing hands-on personal services, including first aid and CPR certification | training requirement | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | receive training within the first 60 days of employment | ||
| Florida | limited mental health, extended congregate care and limited nursing services licences carry extra staffing rules | additional rules for special licences | Facilities holding a limited mental health, extended congregate care, or limited nursing services license must also comply with the staffing requirements of rules | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | maintenance, clerical and food preparation staff do not count towards the minimum staffing hours | counting rule | Staff whose duties are exclusively building or grounds maintenance, clerical, or food preparation do not count towards meeting the minimum staffing hours requirement | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Georgia | minimum age of the on-site manager and responsible staff persons | flat presence requirement | The on-site manager and responsible staff persons must be at least 21 years of age and responsible for supervising the provision of care by all other staff | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Florida | more than 95 total combined residents, day care participants and respite care residents — incremental staff hours above the table | weekly staff-hours table | For every 20 total combined residents, day care participants, and respite care residents over 95 add 42 staff hours per week | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| North Carolina | one staff member per shift assigned to personal care, barred from food service and restricted in housekeeping duties (7 to 12 residents) | census-banded minimum staff on duty | Each facility shall assign at least one staff member per shift to provide personal care services and supervision of residents as needed by the residents | 10A NCAC 13F .0606 | ||
| North Carolina | one staff member per shift assigned to personal care, barred from food service and restricted in housekeeping duties (13 to 20 residents) | census-banded minimum staff on duty | Each facility shall assign at least one staff member per shift to provide personal care services and supervision of residents as needed by the residents | 10A NCAC 13F .0607 | ||
| Florida | one staff member with access to facility and resident records must be present whenever residents are in the facility | flat presence requirement | At least one staff member who has access to facility and resident records in case of an emergency must be in the facility at all times when residents are in the facility | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | only staff actually on the job count towards the minimum staffing hours | counting rule | Only on-the-job staff may be counted in meeting the minimum staffing hours. Vacant positions or absent staff may not be counted | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| North Carolina | second staff member required when the administrator or manager is on duty on the first or second shifts | census-banded minimum staff on duty | another staff member (i.e., co-administrator, manager or aide) shall be in the building or within 500 feet of the facility with a means of two-way telecommunication at all times | 10A NCAC 13F .0606 | ||
| North Carolina | second staff member required when the administrator or manager is on duty within the facility | census-banded minimum staff on duty | another staff member (i.e. co-administrator, manager or aide) shall be in the building or within 500 feet of the facility with a means of two-way telecommunication at all times and available to assist if needed | 10A NCAC 13F .0607 | ||
| Georgia | staff who may not be counted towards the minimum staffing ratios | counting rule | Staff, such as cooks and maintenance staff, who do not receive on-going direct care training and whose job duties do not routinely involve the oversight or delivery of direct personal care to the residents, must not be counted towards these minimum staffing ratios | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Florida | staffing above the minimum when the agency finds supervision or care inadequate | agency-directed increase | The facility must immediately increase staff above the minimum levels established in paragraph (a), if the agency determines that adequate supervision and care are not being provided to residents | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Georgia | staffing plans and monthly work schedules showing planned and actual coverage | staffing records and disclosure | must develop and maintain accurate staffing plans that take into account the specific needs of the residents and monthly work schedules for all employees, including relief workers, showing planned and actual coverage for each day and night | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Florida | temporary absence of the administrator or manager of more than 48 hours | flat presence requirement | a staff member who is at least 21 years of age must be physically present and designated in writing to be in charge of the facility | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Georgia | two on-site direct care staff on the premises 24 hours per day whenever residents are present | flat presence requirement | At least two on-site direct care staff persons must be on the premises 24 hours per day providing supervision whenever residents are present, with at least one staff person on each occupied floor | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-63-.09 | ||
| Florida | when the administrator or manager's own hours count towards the required staffing hours | counting rule | The administrator or manager's time may be counted for the purpose of meeting the required staffing hours, provided the administrator or manager is actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the facility | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| Florida | written 24-hour work schedule the facility must keep and show to residents on request | staffing records and disclosure | The facility must maintain a written work schedule that reflects its 24-hour staffing pattern for a given time period | Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 59A-36.010 | ||
| North Carolina | written plan of operation naming the staff involved and the time estimated for each duty | staffing records and disclosure | The administrator shall prepare a plan of operation for each licensed facility specifying the staff involved, their regularly assigned duties and the amount of time estimated to be spent for each duty | 10A NCAC 13F .0606 |
Where this came from
Every record above links the page it was taken from and quotes the sentence that states it. These are the 5 sources this dataset was assembled from.
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-59A-36-010
- reports.oah.state.nc.ushttp://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2010a%20-%20health%20and%20human%20services/chapter%2013%20-%20nc%20medical%20care%20commission/subchapter%20f/10a%20ncac%2013f%20.0605.pdf
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-111-8-63-.09
- reports.oah.state.nc.ushttp://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2010a%20-%20health%20and%20human%20services/chapter%2013%20-%20nc%20medical%20care%20commission/subchapter%20f/10a%20ncac%2013f%20.0607.pdf
- reports.oah.state.nc.ushttp://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2010a%20-%20health%20and%20human%20services/chapter%2013%20-%20nc%20medical%20care%20commission/subchapter%20f/10a%20ncac%2013f%20.0606.pdf
Machine-readable
- data.jsonThe whole dataset — every record with its source URL and source quote.
- Open Knowledge Format bundleOne JSON object per line — every record's frontmatter and quoted span exactly as it is held here, in one fetch.
- How this is made and checkedWhat "verified against source" does and does not mean.