Skilled Nursing Visitation Policy

Legacy Pointe at UCF Skilled Nursing
STANDARDS & GUIDELINES

Legacy Pointe at UCF
Skilled Nursing Facility
Visitation Policy

March 1, 2023

Objective: To make certain that each resident receives appropriate and safe visitation

Responsibility: Licensed Nursing Home Administrator; Director of Nursing; All Staff

Standard: Each resident will receive the necessary care and services to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment and plan of care.

Visitation will be conducted through different means based on the communities’ residents’ needs, such as in resident rooms, dedicated visitation spaces, and outdoors. Regardless of how visits are conducted, the community will follow certain core principles and best practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

  • The community will provide guidance (e.g., posted signs at entrances) about recommended actions for visitors who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19, or have had close contact with someone with COVID-19. Visitors with confirmed COVID-19 infection or compatible symptoms will be asked to defer non-urgent in-person visitation until they meet CDC criteria for healthcare settings to end isolation. Visitors who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection will be asked to defer non-urgent in-person visitation until 10 days after their close contact if they meet criteria described in CDC healthcare guidance (e.g., cannot wear source control).
  • Hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred)
  • The wearing of face covering or mask (covering mouth and nose) in accordance with CDC guidance is encouraged
  • The community will place instructional signage throughout the community and proper visitor education on COVID-19 including, signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, and other applicable community practices.

Guideline:

Outdoor Visitation

Outdoor visits generally pose a lower risk of transmission due to increased space and airflow. For outdoor visits, the community will encourage residents and visitors to visit in our outdoor patios near the community entrance. However, weather considerations (e.g., inclement weather, excessively hot or cold temperatures, poor air quality) or an individual resident’s health status (e.g., medical condition(s), COVID-19 status, quarantine status) may hinder outdoor visits.

Indoor Visitation

The community will allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents as permitted under the regulations.

Face Coverings and masks during visits

The community will monitor the county’s COVID-19 community transmission rate. If the rate is high, everyone in a healthcare setting will be encouraged to wear face coverings or masks. If the community’s county COVID-19 community transmission is not high, the community will encourage residents and visitors to wear face coverings or masks.

Indoor Visitation during an Outbreak Investigation

An outbreak investigation is initiated when a single new case of COVID-19 occurs among residents or staff. While it is safer for visitors not to enter the facility during an outbreak investigation, visitors must still be allowed in the facility. Visitors will be made aware of the potential risk of visiting during an outbreak. Residents or their representatives who would like to have a visit during an outbreak investigation will be encouraged to wear face coverings or masks during visits and will be encouraged to visit in the resident’s room. During an outbreak, the community will limit tee movement of visitors. While an outbreak investigation is occurring, facilities should limit visitor movement in the facility. Visitors will only be allowed to visit designated areas or the resident’s room. Visitors will be encouraged to physically distance themselves from other residents and staff, when possible.

Visitor Testing and Vaccination

While not required, the community will encourage residents and visitors in counties with high levels of community transmission to be tested. The community along with CMS strongly encourages all visitors to become vaccinated against COVID-19.

Compassionate Care Visits

The community will allow compassionate care visits at all times.