Running an adult daycare seems to be one of the harder gigs. Between keeping employees in check and fully trained and clients safe, it is a hard organization to manage. Our adult daycare inspection considerations list should help you keep insurance claims and deductions down. One less thing to worry about!
Insurance Considerations when Choosing which Adult Daycare Services to Provide
When running an adult daycare, you must understand that there are multiple types of insurance to cover you, your employees, your property, and your business. Some that you should consider when deciding on setting up your daycare center are:
- Professional Liability – Covers your business from the negligence of employees and other defense/legal costs
- General Liability – Liability for any incident that occurs within your business (slip & fall hazards or a loose handrail)
- Auto Liability – For your workers who may transport clients/services to and from other locations
- Abuse and Molestation Coverage – If the worker physically, sexually, mentally, or emotionally abuses a client
Adult Daycare: Safety Inspection Checklist
Adult Daycares are meant to help adults who cannot supervise themselves during the day & may need help with basic care functions. This naturally means that these workers are constantly focusing on keeping patients/clients safe. Worker’s may overlook small issues, like a cracked sidewalk or an unsteady handrailing as their main focus is on the client, not their surroundings. A Supervisor should focus on making sure safety is a priority for employees & that the surrounding areas also well maintained & safe.
Here are just a few things you might want to keep constantly asking/monitoring:
- Is the loading/unloading area clearly marked?
- Are there any potholes in the parking lot?
- Are there cracks in the pavement that needs to be repaired?
- Do you have wheelchair-accessible ramps & handrails leading up to the main entrance clearly marked?
- Are these ramps and handrails in good condition?
- Are the emergency exits clearly marked and free of obstructions?
Safety Tips for Your Adult Daycare Center
While having a safety inspection checklist is definitely important, having certain safety parameters in play is just as necessary. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Rigorous, continuous safety training – your employees are dealing with real-life adults that can be unable to perform simple functions without supervision. This means your employees need training to the max. Rigorous training with in-depth expert advice is important. What is also important is that this training never stops and is not just a 3-day course. It is a continuous learning process.
- Safety Guideline/Handbook – Having a written word on the safety parameters and rules already gives the employees a better idea of how to handle their clients.
- Mechanical Lifts & Safe Patient Handling
- Handrails on stairways
- Handicapped Bathrooms
- Proper Lighting
- Large, spacious areas
- Medical supplies ready for immediate use
Adult Day Care Transportation Considerations
When running an adult daycare, you need to think about how the adults in need of assistance will come to the daycare facility. If their caretakers at home do not have the time or resources to drive them there and back or make trips to various other locations to aid the adult, this is where your daycare service can flex its muscles. Having a transportation wing of your facility will make your daycare more profitable immediately. Offering the transportation of clients from home to daycare and back is the most important, but you can also offer trips to the grocery store, hospital, and sources of entertainment.
Before setting any of this up, you might want to think about the potential risks of implementing this transportation system. Who will be driving? Will they be using their own vehicle or a vehicle provided by your organization? Are they a good and safe driver? Do they need a specific type of license to drive an organization owned fleet vehicle? Will their actions cost me thousands of dollars? We suggest following these tips to make sure you have the necessary guidelines set to open up your transportation service.
Have a Motor Vehicle Record open for every single driver. Essentially, a MVR is a small summary of the driver’s previous record and any information pertaining to tickets they may have received. This report includes driver’s license info, date of birth, previous driving history, violations, etc.
Obtain comprehensive automobile insurance with medical, property, and liability damage included. That means if you/your driver is liable for an accident, you are protected and covered. If your car receives damages or is stolen (your property), you are covered. And if there is a medical injury due to a crash, you are also covered.
Contracting a professional driving company may be worthwhile for your company’s success. If you are unsure of your workers serving as part or full-time drivers, hiring professionals is worth it. They are experienced and bring less risk into the equation. Spending more on their services may cost you less in the long-run.
Conclusion
To conclude, running a daycare for adults is not easy. There are a lot of risks and potential costs to consider. But taking our adult daycare inspections tips into consideration will help your organization to succeed.
Still, need help? Still, have questions? Contact a risk advisor today at 914-357-8444. Or, visit our website here.
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