Section 22-B3829. RESIDENT STATUS POLICIES

 

3829.1The Residence Director shall orally notify CMHS and the resident's legal guardian, if any, within twenty-four hours (24 hrs.) of any serious illness, accident, or unusual incident involving the resident, and shall document the incident in the resident's permanent record.

 

3829.2Each oral notice required by §3829.1 shall be followed by a written notice within forty-eight hours (48 hrs.) of the unusual incident. The Residence Director shall ensure that a copy of the written notices are placed in the resident's permanent record.

 

3829.3Each MHCRF shall have written policies and procedures governing the care of residents in an emergency, including a communicable disease episode, food poisoning outbreak, when a resident is critically ill or dies or has a change in mental status that endangers himself or herself or others.

 

3829.4In case of the death of a resident, the Residence Director shall promptly notify the resident's attending physician and the next-of-kin, legal guardian, if any, the CMHS, DCRA, and, as required, the D.C. Medical Examiner.

 

3829.5If a resident dies, the following procedures shall be followed, as applicable:

 

(a)If any part of a resident's personal funds, while in the facility, has been provided under an assistance program by a District or federal agency, the Residence Director shall immediately notify the agency of the resident's death and shall determine the disposition of the resident's property in conjunction with the appropriate agency;

 

(b)When a residence has possession of a deceased resident's funds, valuables, or other assets, these items shall not be released to any person, firm, corporation, or agency except to the appointed personal representative of the resident's estate;

 

(c)If no claim for the resident's real and personal property is made within six (6) weeks of death, the deceased's assigned case manager, or if the resident had no case manager, the Residence Director shall make reasonable attempts to locate the resident's personal representative(s), or heir(s), and shall adequately store and safeguard the property or valuables; and

 

(d)If no surviving spouse or relatives can be located, the Mayor of the District of Columbia should be notified of the deceased resident's remaining real and personal property so that it can escheat to the city, in accordance with D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. § 19-701.

 

3829.6Each MHCRF shall abide by the District of Columbia laws governing the investigation and reporting of deaths under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 42 DCR 569, 597 (January 27, 1995).