Albuquerque Senior AdvisorLast verified: October 2026
When must a New Mexico assisted living facility assess a new resident?
An appropriate staff member must complete a resident assessment within 15 days before admission, to decide what help the person needs and whether the facility can provide it, and the assessment must be reviewed at least every six months or sooner if the resident's health changes significantly.
The assessment establishes a baseline of the resident's functional status so staff can spot change later. It covers daily activities such as toileting, bathing, dressing, mobility and transfers, plus cognition, communication, behavior, nutrition and medications. If a facility skips the assessment and offers a move-in date over the phone, that is a warning sign.
Sources: 8.370.14 NMAC (HCA health facility regulations).
What is an individual service plan in New Mexico assisted living?
The individual service plan (ISP) is the written plan of the services the facility will provide, and those other agencies will provide, to meet the needs found in the assessment; it must be in place within 10 calendar days of admission and reviewed at least every six months or after a significant change.
A licensed practical nurse, registered nurse or physician extender must review the evaluation and the ISP. Services from outside providers, such as hospice or home health, must be coordinated on the ISP, so the plan is also the place to see whether the facility knows what the home health nurse is doing.
Should families be involved in the individual service plan?
Yes. The ISP decides what staff will actually do each day, so families should ask to see the draft, attend the review if the resident agrees, and make sure the plan names specific help (for example, two-person assistance for transfers, or check-ins every two hours at night) rather than general statements.
A vague plan is hard to enforce. If a resident's needs change after a fall or a hospital stay, ask for a new assessment and an updated ISP rather than waiting for the six-month review; the rule requires a review when the change is significant.
How are memory care residents assessed differently in New Mexico?
For a memory care unit the pre-admission assessment must be done by a registered nurse or physician extender, include a primary care diagnosis of dementia and the need for the unit plus an evaluation of less restrictive alternatives, and be repeated every six months and after any significant change.
The ISP for a unit resident is developed with the resident's primary care practitioner. Read the full memory care unit rule →
What should you do if an Albuquerque facility is not following the service plan?
Raise it first with the administrator in writing and ask for an ISP review; if it is not fixed, call the long-term care ombudsman program at 1-866-451-2901 for help, and file a complaint with HCA at 1-800-752-8649 if you believe the rule is being broken.
Keep notes with dates. A record of specific missed tasks (medications late, no help to the bathroom at night) is far more useful to the ombudsman or a surveyor than a general complaint about care.
Assessment vs. individual service plan
| Resident assessment | Individual service plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | what help is needed and whether the facility can give it | who will do what to meet those needs |
| Deadline | within 15 days before admission | within 10 days after admission |
| Review | every six months or on significant change | every six months or on significant change |
| Who signs off | appropriate staff (RN or physician extender for memory care) | reviewed by an LPN, RN or physician extender |
