Skilled Nursing Indoor Visitation

COVID-19 Indoor Skilled Nursing Visitation Policy

REFORMED CHURCH HOME

COVID-19 INDOOR SKILLED NURSING VISITATION POLICY

Policy: It is the policy of the Reformed Church Home to allow outdoor and indoor visitation in accordance with the CDC guidance and CMS regulations. Visits are allowed at all times, however conducted in alignment to certain core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention must be followed.

Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention

  1. Visitors who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19, or currently meet the criteria for quarantine, should not enter the facility. Facilities should screen all who enter for these visitation exclusions.
  2. Hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred)
  3. Face covering or mask (covering mouth and nose mandatory)
  4. Social distancing at least six feet between persons
  5. 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 visitation areas after each visit)
  6. Appropriate staff use of PPE
  7. Effective cohorting of residents (e.g., separate areas dedicated to COVID-19 care)
  8. Resident and staff testing conducted as required

 Procedure:

  1. Indoor visits are allowed for residents, regardless of their vaccination status, unless the resident is on quarantine/isolation and is limited if an outbreak occurs in the facility.
  2. Screening of all who enter RCH for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to include temperature checks and questions about and observations of signs and symptoms or those who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection in the prior 14 days.
  3. Indoor visitation at all times. The facility strongly suggests no visitation during resident’s mealtimes, between 11:30 am – 1 pm and from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
  4. Monitoring CALI (Covid-19 Level Index) score in the region –

CALI score will be posted on the front desk weekly.

 – If CALI score is high or very high best practice is to limit 2 visitors per resident at a time to be able to maintain proper distancing. Mask should be worn at all times during visits.

– If CALI score is low to moderate, and visitors and resident are fully vaccinated and not severely immunocompromised can be taken off in the room and choose to have close contact during visits however masks should be placed back on if with other residents and staff. 

  • Reformed Church Home will honor each resident’s right to have and choose visitors and to make preferences. The activity staff will meet with each resident to determine who the resident wishes to visit with in-person. During these visits, the activities staff will explain to the resident how visitation will work and what the resident can expect.
  • The visitation policy will be provided to residents, resident’s visitors, staff and others, as needed in writing, via the email chain used to convey COVID-19 information and policy changes.
  1. If a resident resides in a private room, the visit may take place in the resident’s room.

Residents who reside in shared accommodations must meet the following criteria for a visit in a semi-private room:

  • roommate is fully vaccinated and
  • is not immunocompromised and severely ill

Otherwise, visitation will take place in one of the four locations designed for such purposes: 

1. Second floor library

2. Second floor living room

3. Serenity room

4. Third floor dining room

** Outdoor spaces are available in the front of the building and in the garden for scheduled visits, dependent upon the weather.

  1. Visitors will be provided with the visitation guidelines upon check in as well as information about the risks and dangers associated with COVID-19. Each visitor and resident will be required to sign an informed consent form acknowledging they have received and agree to follow the guidelines.
  2. Prior to the indoor visit, visitors will be strongly encouraged to have obtained the COVID vaccine and the annual flu shot. Also, prior to the visit, visitors are strongly encouraged to have a weekly negative COVID-19 rapid test which they can take in the front lobby or can bring the test results with them.
  3. Visitors are also required to complete a screening questionnaire upon arrival and have their temperature taken. Any visitor who has symptoms of any infectious disease or has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days or a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above will not be permitted to visit with the resident. Family members coming from out of state who are unvaccinated are subject to the current state quarantine guidelines. Please see for these guidelines.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/travelers/travelduringcovid19.html

https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/COVID_updated_quarantine_time frames.pdf

**Please note that visitors coming from out of state who are unvaccinated must quarantine for the designated period before an indoor visit with RCH residents is allowed.

  1. Once cleared, visitors will be asked to go directly to their visitation destination.

Visitors are asked to abstain from walking through the halls, visiting the dining rooms or nurses’ station.

  1. Visitors and residents must wear a face covering (surgical mask if supply is available); and visitors must wear a tight-fitting face covering or mask for the duration of the visit. Neck gaiters are not acceptable.
  2. Visitors and residents are not able to eat or drink during the visits.
  3. At the conclusion of the visit, visitors will be asked to leave through the front door. If the visitor needs to ride the elevator, visitors should refrain from getting on the elevator if another family or staff member is already present.
  4. The Public Restrooms on the first-floor lobby will be available to visitors. Visitors should refrain from using the resident’s bathroom.
  5. Please refer to compassionate care policy or essential caregiver policy for other specific visitations.
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