For facilities with 120 beds or fewer that do not employ a full-time social worker, what type of consultation is required?

For facilities with 120 beds or fewer that do not employ a full-time social worker, a social worker consultation is mandated to address the needs of residents appropriately. This requirement ensures that even when a full-time social worker is not on staff, the facility still provides residents access to the expertise that a social worker brings, particularly regarding their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. A social worker consultation can help assess the residents' needs, develop care plans, and facilitate connections with community resources.

The other options, while valuable in certain contexts, do not fulfill the specific requirement outlined for nursing homes in Pennsylvania regarding social services. Medical consultations focus primarily on physical health matters, legal consultations concern compliance and regulatory issues, and psychological consultations are more specialized, typically addressing mental health conditions and therapy needs. These do not replace the comprehensive support that a social worker provides in terms of integrating care and advocacy for resident needs within the nursing facility.