Sec. 23A-4. Definitions.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 23A-4 (2026)
Sec. 23A-4. Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
In this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:
Activities of daily living (ADL): Routine daily activities, such as:
(a)
Mobility. Providing physical support to enable a resident to move about in or outside a group home.
(b)
Personal hygiene.
(1)
Bathing: Assembling towels, soaps, and other necessary supplies; helping a resident in and out of the bathtub or shower; turning the water on and off; adjusting water temperatures; washing and drying portions of the body which are difficult for a resident to reach; and being available while a resident is bathing.
(2)
Grooming: Helping a resident with shaving, oral care, hair care, and nail care.
(c)
Dressing. Helping a resident choose, put on, and remove appropriate clothing.
(d)
Eating. Helping a resident cut food and pour beverages, and feeding a resident who is unable to feed himself or herself.
(e)
Toileting. Reminding a resident about using the toilet; assisting a resident to the bathroom; helping a resident to undress; positioning a resident on the commode; and helping a resident with related personal hygiene, including assistance with changing of adult briefs.
(f)
Interpersonal interaction. Helping a resident identify social needs and interests and engage in activities to satisfy those needs and interests; creating activities in the home to encourage resident-to-resident and resident-to-staff socializing.
Applicant: A person applying for a group home license or license renewal.
Board: A program review board that meets on an ad hoc basis to consider a program statement filed by an applicant for a license.
COMAR: The Code of Maryland Regulations.
Day care is defined in COMAR regulations governing day care for the elderly and medically handicapped adults.
Department: The Department of Health and Human Services.
Director: The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Director's designee.
Domiciliary care is defined in COMAR regulations governing domiciliary care homes.
Group home: A residence which houses 3 to 16 unrelated persons receiving group residential care, but not more than the number of persons allowed under a license issued by a state agency.
Group residential care: The provision of shelter, board, facilities, resources for daily living, personal guidance and direction, and related supportive care and services in a residential environment.
Group senior assisted housing is defined in COMAR regulations governing Group Sheltered Housing for the Elderly.
Licensee: The person to whom a facility license is issued under this Chapter.
Person: Any individual, partnership, or firm; corporation, public or private, profit or nonprofit; association; government agency; or any other legal entity.
Primary care giver: A supportive staff person who is responsible for providing group residential care services for residents under the supervision of the home's staff director.
Program statement: A document approved by the Director that describes:
(a)
a group home's scope of services;
(b)
the nature, purpose, objectives, policies, and procedures of the proposed program;
(c)
the background and experience of the organization or person sponsoring the home;
(d)
the experience and qualifications of the applicant and personnel operating the home;
(e)
the needs and capabilities of the residents to be served; and
(f)
the budget, resources and procedures for meeting those needs.
Resident: An individual who resides in a group home in order to receive group residential care.
Staff director: A person who is authorized to direct, manage, and supervise the activities of the staff at a group home. The staff director may be the licensee or a person designated by the licensee to operate and manage the group home as the licensee's agent.
Supportive care: 24-hour supervision, 3 meals a day, housekeeping services, medication supervision, and assistance with personal care or the activities of daily living.
Unrelated individual: Any person who is not a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, stepmother, stepfather, stepson, stepdaughter, husband or wife, or in-law of any listed person, or of the owner, operator, or lessee of the group home.