481-67.2 Program Policies and Procedures on Incident Reports

LeadingAge Iowa is pleased to bring a new resource for Assisted Living members in 2024! Each month Kellie Van Ree, Director of Clinical Services will focus on a rule review from the administrative rules for AL providers. These articles will be included in the Communique, the AL Survey Trend Reports, as well as the Assisted Living Resource website. If you have a rule that you would like featured in the coming months, please reach out to Kellie.

For the first month, LeadingAge Iowa will focus on 481-67.2, policies and procedures on incident reports.

The rules state that each assisted living program must have policies and procedures related to the reporting of incidents including allegations of dependent adult abuse. At a minimum, the policies and procedures must include:

• Incident report forms that are available to use by program staff.
• The incident report must be in detail and documented on the form.
• The person in charge at the time of the incident shall prepare and sign the form.
• The report shall include statements from individuals, if any, who witnessed the incident.
• An incident shall include all accidents or unusual occurrences within the program’s building or premises that affect tenants.
• Copies of the completed incident reports shall be kept on file, on the program’s premises for a minimum of three years.
• Allegations of dependent adult abuse shall be consistent with Iowa Code Chapter 235E.

Common insufficiencies cited under 67.2 include when incident reports are not completed, the form is not completed thoroughly including possible witnesses, the report is completed by someone other than the person who was in charge at the time of the incident, and reports are not maintained on-site for a minimum of three years.