Visitation Plan

COVID-19 Visitation Policy

Policy: It is the policy of the Loudonville Assisted Living Residence to conduct visitation in accordance with the most recent Department of Health guidance regarding adult care facility visitation. Strategies will be updated as more information becomes available and guidance changes.

Procedures:

1. Conditions for Visitation

• • There have been no orders by local health department or NYS Department of Health to quarantine the community.
  • With the exception of compassionate or end-of-life care visits, to be eligible for visitation, residents must not be in isolation or observation with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
  • Visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older.
  • Compassionate care and end of life visitation will be permitted when visitation is not otherwise permitted in accordance with the Department of Health’s current visitation guidance.

2. All visitation must be conducted with strict adherence to the Core Principles for reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission (see below).
3. All relevant COVID-19 infection control procedures must be communicated to staff, residents and visitors to keep them informed of the safeguards in place to safely conduct visitation at the community.
4. Appropriate signage regarding facemask utilization and hand hygiene must be in place at the facility.
5. In order to provide adequate supervision and monitoring, the total number of visitors at any one time may not exceed 20.
6. Visitation is permitted 7 days a week.
7. Visitors are not permitted to eat with residents in resident rooms or common dining spaces.
8. Loudonville has created accessible and safe outdoor spaces for visitation which allow for proper social distancing.
   • Assisted Living – umbrella covered area located past the main entrance under the portico.
   • Enhanced Assisted Living – covered area at the entrance to the enhanced assisted living entrance.
   • The Gerald Levine Center for Memory Care – wander-free outdoor space which provides umbrella covering.

9. Indoor visits are conducted in the transition spaces between Assisted Living and Memory Care and between Assisted Living and Enhanced, in the Meditation Room in Enhanced, and/or in the Resident’s private living space. Visitation should not be conducted in a resident’s room if they share a room with another resident. The sole exception is that in-room visitation for residents in shared rooms will be permitted if a resident’s health status prevents them from leaving the room and arrangements are made in advance of such visit.
10. The visitation plan will be widely disseminated to families, residents and staff and will be maintained at the reception area and should be provided to visitors upon request.
11. Upon arrival, the staff person/receptionist receiving the visitors at the front desk under the portico will provide a facemask and offer use of hand sanitizer.
12. The Loudonville Assisted Living Residence has designated certain facility staff to supervise and monitor permitted visitors for adherence to the Core Principles for reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
    • One staff member per shift on each unit will be identified as a Visitor Guide, who will be tasked with periodically checking in on in-room visits.
    • Loudonville will also provide adequate personnel to help with the transition of residents, compliance with existing regulatory requirements, and cleaning and disinfecting visitation areas after each visit using an EPA approved disinfectant.
13. All visitors will be screened for COVID-19 signs and symptoms. Visitation will be denied to any potential visitor that does not pass the health screening, then current requirements regarding international travel and/or who has been exposed to a COVID-positive person in the previous 14 days.
14. At the time of the visitor’s initial visit, all visitors, including those making compassionate care visits and those on community tours, will complete the required visitor questionnaire and sign the attached Core Principles of Infection Control/Visitor Rules. Such rules will also be posted next to the sign-in sheet which visitors must review before signing in at the time of each subsequent visit.
15. The staff person screening visitors will collect their full name, day/evening phone number, the name of the resident they are visiting, as well as confirming the visitor cleared screening protocols will also be documented.
16. When possible, the designated facility staff will accompany the visitor(s) to the identified meeting location. If that is not possible, designated facility staff will remind visitors of appropriate COVID-19 infection control procedures (e.g. social distancing, mask wearing, handwashing etc.) and direct visitors to go directly to the visitation place.
17. ALL staff shall observe for and report to their unit manager or the Executive Director any visitors that are not following social distancing, face covering or other rules.
18. Supervision for indoor and outdoor visits in communal areas: Staff persons assigned to supervise visits will keep their distance from each visit group to allow for privacy unless assistance is needed. Staff will maintain general awareness that visitors and residents are complying with social distance, face mask and other rules. Any visitor not complying shall be given a warning that further noncompliance will result in loss of their ability to continue the visit or to visit again. Repeated noncompliance should be reported to the Executive Director.
19. Supervision for in-resident-living quarters: Supervision in residents’ living quarters is comprised of:
    • Documenting health and travel screening.
    • Providing the visitor with the applicable rules regarding visitation.
    • Observing visitor’s compliance when walking to and from the resident room.
    • Maintaining general awareness when walking by resident rooms where a visit is taking place.
20. Noncompliant visitors: If the Executive Director determines that a noncompliant visitor must end their visit or not be allowed a future visit because the Executive Director reasonably believes the visitor is directly endangering the safety of any resident, the Executive Director will record and maintain on-site a written statement of the incident including why visitor access was denied or cut short, the date and time and identification of the individual, and make the documentation available upon request to the resident involved and to the person denied visitor access.
21. Resident visits/social outings off the community’s property: The person(s) with whom the resident is visiting will be made aware of the community’s COVID safety precautions and will be asked to sign that they understand the protocols and the importance of adhering to them. This documentation will be maintained in the resident’s record. Upon return to the community, residents will be required to undergo required screening activities.

Core Principles

Adherence to Core Principles:  Regardless of how visits are conducted certain core principles and best practices reduce the risk of COVID transmission including: