---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-7-430. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-7-430
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-7-430 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-430
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-430.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-430/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=484
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-412.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-431.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: Effective January 1, 2026.
in_force: true
other_versions:
  - version: Effective until January 1, 2026.
    in_force: false
    md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-430.md?version=until+January+1%2C+2026
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / REGULATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES / DESIGNATED ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-7-430. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Designated essential caregiver” means a person who is age 18 years old or older and who has been designated by a patient or resident who is an adult, or by a parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis for a patient or resident who is a minor, to assist with such patient’s or resident’s personal needs and activities and to support the health, healthcare, long-term care, and overall well-being of such patient or resident. Unless otherwise designated by an adult patient or resident, such designated essential caregiver shall be the person authorized and empowered to act on behalf of the patient or resident pursuant to Code Section 31-9-2.

(2) “Hospital” means a hospital licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(3) “Long-term care facility” means a skilled nursing home, intermediate care home, personal care home, assisted living community, or inpatient hospice facility licensed or permitted to operate pursuant to this chapter and any community living arrangement licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 37.

(4) “Visitor” means any individual authorized by an adult patient, resident, or designated essential caregiver of such patient or resident to have access to in-person visitation in a hospital or long-term care facility with such patient or resident.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-7-430, enacted by Ga. L. 2024, p. 664, § 2/HB 663, effective July 1, 2024; Ga. L. 2025, p. 177, § 2-4/HB 584, effective January 1, 2026.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2025, the comma following “community living arrangement” in paragraph (3) was deleted.

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, in paragraph (3), deleted “community living arrangement” following “assisted living community,” and added “and any community living arrangement licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 37”.

## Delayed Effective Date

Code Section 31-7-430 is set out twice in this Code. This version is effective January 1, 2026. For version effective until January 1, 2026, see the preceding version.