Residential Care
Apartment Complexes (RCACs)
Information
for Staff and Management of RCACs
Independent apartment living options are classified as a Residential
Care Apartment Complex (RCAC) and must adhere to State
Administrative Code, DHS 89 (exit DHS).
An RCAC is a place where five or more
adults reside. Apartments must each have a lockable entrance and exit; a
kitchen, including a stove (or microwave oven); and individual bathroom,
sleeping and living areas.
This living option also provides, to persons
who reside in the place, not more than 28 hours per week of the following
services:
-
Supportive Services: Activities related to general housekeeping,
transportation to access community services and recreational activities.
-
Personal Assistance: Services related to activities of daily
living, e.g., dressing, eating, bathing and grooming. The most common meal
plan utilized by tenants of the RCACs is that consisting of two meals per
day.
-
Nursing Services:
Health monitoring, medication administration and
medication management.
Health monitoring means the assessment of physical,
functional and cognitive status to detect changes that may indicate health
problems and to facilitate appropriate intervention.
Health monitoring and
medication management are the most common services required by senior
tenants primarily due to improper medication administration and
poor/questionable nutrition practices.
-
Emergency Assistance:
An RCAC shall ensure that tenant health and
safety are protected in the event of an emergency and shall be able to
provide emergency assistance 24 hours a day.
RCACs provide services either directly, or under contract, and the
services must be part of the tenant’s service agreement.
RCACs are not
for those persons who are incompetent or for those with Alzheimer- related
dementia or other infirmities of aging that require more in-depth
monitoring by health care professionals.
RCACs may be a physically distinct part of a structure that is a
nursing home or community based residential facility (CBRF).
RCACs self designate. Facilities serving only private pay tenants may
be registered with the Division of Quality Assurance.
Certification is
required to qualify for reimbursement from the Community Options Program
(COP) and the Medical Assistance (MA) program in order to house tenants
who are recipients of COP or MA funds.
RCACs pay a certification fee of $445, plus $7.60 per apartment. No fees are required for registered RCACs.
Sizes of RCACs can vary. Currently, RCACs range from 5-109 individual
apartments, with the average complex size being 36 apartments. RCAC’s
costs range from $1,500 to $3,000 per month per tenant.
Certified RCACs are inspected biennially, via unannounced surveys and
complaint investigations.
All RCACs must adhere to
Chapters DHS 12 and DHS 13 (exit DHS), Wisconsin Administrative Code – Caregiver
Background Checks and Allegation Reporting.
Last Updated: July 17, 2009 |
