Update for Visitations as of June 2021

Dear Residents, Families, and Responsible Parties,

We are happy to announce and update you regarding our visitation policies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently provided updated guidance for in-person visitation for all to include persons vaccinated. The updated guidance allows nursing facilities to offer “responsible” in-person visitation; both outside and inside our centers. We will begin to offer increased in-person visitations June 7, 2021 from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm daily. No Appointments will be required with the exception of Compassionate Visits after 6 pm daily. Please continue to call our office on Monday or Tuesday mornings for requests for after visitation hours Compassion Visits. Visitation will not require appointments and will be from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, 7 days a week.

We are required to check all visitors in at the front door, take their temperature, and inquire about travel. We will also inquire regarding visitors’ COVID vaccination status for the safety of residents. It is not mandatory for you to provide or show a copy of your card, but is recommended. If we are unable to determine your vaccination status, or you wish not to share, we will simply apply as not vaccinated for visits. We ask that visits be limited to 30 minutes and to 2 persons for inside/ in-room visits. We will require masks and social distancing be followed if not vaccinated, or the resident is not vaccinated. We can accommodate outside for 3 or more visitors on the building exterior. Masks and/or face shields are recommended. Visitors will be restricted from walking or traveling to 200 hall due to this being our quarantine location.

We are excited for you and our residents as we work to increase visitations. However, we want to be smart about taking steps forward and ask for your continued patience. We want to continue to proceed in a manner that will ensure safety, as it is our top priority to keep our facility free of COVID-19. We can accomplish this together by being responsible and accountable in following the CMS core principles, maintaining infection prevention practices as well as adhering to facility guidelines.

Per CMS QSO-20-39-NH Revised guidance CMS Guidance
Visitation can be conducted through different means based on a facility’s structure and residents’ needs. Regardless of how visits are conducted, there are certain core principles and best practices that reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention

• Screening of all who enter the facility for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., temperature checks, questions about and observations of signs or symptoms), and denial of entry of those with signs or symptoms or those who have close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection in the prior 14 days (regardless of the visitor’s vaccination status).
• Hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred).
• Face covering or mask (covering mouth and nose).
• Social distancing at least six feet between individuals not vaccinated or residents not vaccinated.
• Instructional signage throughout the facility and proper visitor education on COVID-19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face covering or mask, specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene).
• Cleaning and disinfecting high frequency touched surfaces in the facility often, and designated visitation areas after each visit.
• Appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Effective cohorting of residents (e.g., separate areas dedicated to COVID-19 care).
• Resident and staff testing conducted as required under 42 CFR §483.80(h).

These core principles are consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for nursing homes and should be always adhered to. In addition, there are some conditions under which CMS states that visitation is NOT allowed at a Skilled Nursing Facility, with which we also must comply to ensure the ongoing safety of residents, staff and visitors.

We are happy to discuss your loved one’s circumstances, the current facility COVID status and the best and safest way to facilitate a visit should you so choose. If you have any questions about the new guidance regarding visitation, please feel free to reach out to our facility at 865-475-9037.

Thank you

Keith Mandrell,
Administrator