Insurance for Assisted Living Facilities Nursing Homes Home Health Care Single lines or packages: • Commercial Auto • General Liability • Professional Liability • Sexual Abuse and Molestation • Workers' Compensation • Property • Directors and Officers • All Others

Just like your clients, Assisted Living Facilities need special care.  No two are alike.  At McCaleb-Metzler, we can provide the insurance coverages needed to protect your business at reasonable prices.  Let us do what we do best so that you can concentrate on what you do best.

How does it work?  McCaleb-Metzler will first listen to you in order to gain an understanding of your business.  We can't insure what we don't understand.  We will walk you through the applications and then we shop your insurance to our insurance companies.  We are an independent insurance agent, so we are not limited to only one.  We then present quotes to you and you decide which company has the best program for your specific needs.  That is what professional insurance agents do - we know the insurance marketplace and we shop it for you.  You know your business better than anyone and we are here to support you in it.

Below are a few of the main insurance risk exposures that assisted living facilities face along with insurance coverages suggested, reprinted with permission from the Rough Notes Company, Inc.  Please remember that McCaleb-Metzler can provide for all your insurance needs.  If you do not see what you need on this page, we can still provide it.  Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Description of operations: Nursing homes are facilities that provide all varieties of care for those unable to care for themselves. This service includes not only the elderly, but also those recovering from illness or with long-term or chronic illnesses.

There are several types of nursing homes. "Skilled care" is the designation given for those homes that provide around-the-clock physician and nursing care for patients who reside on the premises. Homes that have available medical facilities and services, but whose patients are able to provide a degree of care for themselves and do not need around-the-clock attention, are called "intermediate care." The third type, "personal care," provides boarding facilities and access to medical attention for patients who are ambulatory. Nursing homes must be licensed by the state in which they reside.

Property exposure due to fire centers on the cooking area. Most cooking is baking only, but if any frying takes place there must be an automatic protection device in the hood. Other fire concerns may center on the home’s heating plant and laundry operation. Smoking should not be permitted in nursing homes due to the presence of oxygen and other flammables. If the nursing home has been converted from other occupancies, it must meet current codes for its current occupancy, including electrical wiring, heating, and plumbing systems. Theft is a concern as large quantities of drugs may be stored on premises. Tight controls must be in place including, but not limited to, inventory control and limited access to the drug room. Business income losses can be severe.

Crimeexposure is from employee dishonesty and money and securities. Inventory must be reviewed regularly and the drug areas must have limited access. Regular monitoring with cameras can be helpful in deterring employee theft and monitoring patient treatment. All ordering, billing and disbursements must be handled as separate duties. Regular inventories and audits must be conducted. Money and securities can be a concern if payments are accepted on premises. Deposits should be made regularly and no money kept on premises overnight. Pre-employment checks, including criminal background checks, should be required of any employee with access to drugs or money.

Inland marine exposure is limited to accounts receivables, computers and valuable papers and records (patients’ records). Duplicates should be made and kept off site. Some homes may have extensive fine arts and statuary that should be covered under a fine arts coverage form.

Premises liability exposure is extensive due to the large number of visitors to the premises and the impaired physical ability of patients. The condition of housekeeping and maintenance of hallways, rooms, and recreational areas must be orderly and well maintained. Adequate access and egress is critical, not only for visitors, but also for residents. Public and life safety code compliance is very important. Trips, slips and falls are high concerns. Adequate lighting, marked exits and egress are mandatory. Steps must have rails, be well-lighted, marked, and in good maintenance and repair. Emergency evacuation procedures are important and should be reviewed on a regular basis. There should be a temperature-monitoring device in all bathing and showering areas to prevent scalding. Security at the facility, as well as in the building, corridors, and any owned parking area, needs to be carefully checked and reviewed.

Environmental Impairment exposure is significant due to the potential for improperly disposing of medical waste, including contaminants such as hepatitis B or the AIDS virus. Disposal must be documented and meet all FDA and EPA standards.

Professional liability exposure is high. Nursing homes should be part of an accreditation organization and subject to regular inspections by that organization. It should also be licensed and staffed based on the requirements of their license. The staff/patient ratio should be sufficient to provide adequate care for patients. Supervision is essential along with regular training, monitoring, and well written and followed procedures. Patient plans should be in place and followed by all staff members. Only patients who are within the appropriate level of care within the nursing home’s license should be admitted and allowed to remain in the facility. A process should be in place to confirm that professionals attend continuing education classes to maintain their credentials.

Automobile liability exposure is high if any transport of patients and residents is done. Training and prior record of drivers, as well as condition and maintenance of vehicles, are the main items to consider. All drivers must have appropriate licenses to transport patients. Any transport for non-ambulatory patients must include supervision.

Workers compensationexposure comes from contact with patients and from infections or communicable diseases. All CDC recommended procedures for handling bodily fluids must be followed. Workers must be aware of the items they are working on and be on the lookout for possible reactions and symptoms. Hepatitis B, MRSA, the HIV virus and AIDS-related exposures are considerations. Constant cleansing with disinfectants can result in dermatitis to exposed skin. Gloves and masks should be worn at all times when working around any bodily fluids. Back injuries, sprains and strains can occur when assisting or lifting patients. Slips and falls can occur from tripping over objects or slick floors. Procedures should be in place for safely handling unruly or violent patients to minimize injury to both the patient and the employees.

Minimum recommended coverage:

Building, Business Personal Property, Business Interruption, Extra Expense, Employee Dishonesty, Money and Securities, Accounts Receivable, Computers, Valuable Papers and Records, General Liability, Employee Benefits, Directors and Officers Liability, Umbrella, Professional, Environmental Impairment, Business Auto Liability and Physical Damage, Hired and Nonownership Auto, Workers Compensation

Other coverages to consider:

Fine Arts, Forgery, Computer Fraud, Employment Related Practices

Reprinted copyrighted material with permission by the Rough Notes Company, Inc.