Massachusetts Sets New Nursing Home Room Limits

Residential rooms that hold more than two people will be phased out

October 23, 2020

Massachusetts longterm care facilities will need to phase out residential rooms that hold more than two people and meet a minimum staff care level under regulatory changes the Department of Public Health, according to an article on the Sentinel and Enterprise website.

The updated regulations, were created to improve infection control procedures.

Facilities would need to convert all residential bedrooms to single- or double-occupancy rooms by Jan. 31, 2022. Current regulations allow for up to four beds per room in most nursing homes and only impose a cap of two after construction or renovation.

The proposal also updates square footage requirements to reflect the lower capacity per room, a step officials say will help keep patients spaced further apart for safety.

Scientists have discovered that 25 percent of all nursing home patients have dangerous bacteria in their bodies, according to an article on the Live Trading News website.

Infection control protocols are key to preventing the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, and these plans should always be up-to-date.

Read the full Sentinel and Enterprise article.