A Healthier Approach To Caring

Dear Resident, Family Member or Responsible Party,

As always, we hope this finds you safe and healthy. Please continue to reach out to our recreation team to schedule “visits”. The state was kind enough to supply us with an additional iPad to conduct FaceTime visits. In addition to virtual visits, we are beginning to offer perimeter visits for our residents and their families. This essentially gives residents the opportunity to visit with their loved ones in person, through a window or outdoor social distancing. These visits must be pre-scheduled and will require appropriate PPE (masks) and a distance of 6 feet between residents and visitors.

Guidelines and details regarding perimeter visits

• Staff will offer perimeter (window and outdoor social distancing) visits while restricted visitations inside the facility have been mandated per state and federal agencies. The recreation department will work with the resident’s family, conservator, or legal representative to decide together on which specific work shift the visit will be provided.

• All perimeter visits will be planned by the facility with the following safety guidelines:
o No window or outdoor social distancing visits after sundown will be allowed.
o All visits shall be a minimum of twenty (20) minutes and a maximum of thirty (30) minutes long.
o All visits will be structured so as not to overwhelm the facility staff.
o All visits will be structured to ensure that unintended persons do not breach the premises.
o All outdoor visits will be structured to ensure 6ft social distancing is being maintained at all times during the visit. The visiting area is designed to be at least 6ft apart and will include visible markings that can be used as a reference for both the resident and visitor(s).
o No tangible items should be transferred between visitors and resident or staff during these visits.
o Person to person contact between residents and visitors is prohibited for infection control reasons.

• Window Visits
o Upon arrival to the facility, the visitor will call the building to state they are here for their scheduled visit, which resident they are here to visit, and discuss with staff which window the visit will occur.
o Staff will escort the resident to the respective window and provide the resident a portable phone if necessary. Family will utilize their own cell phone for this visit.
o If necessary, the staff will stay and assist the resident with utilizing the phone for the duration of the visit. If the resident is capable and safe to do independently the resident may be left to visit alone.
o Windows may be opened to facilitate visits however both the resident and visitor(s) must wear masks and maintain 6ft. of social distancing.

• Outdoor social-distancing visits
o Upon arrival to the facility, the visitor will call the building to state they are here for their scheduled visit, which resident they are here to visit, and discuss with staff which outdoor area the visit will occur.
o Staff will ensure the resident and assigned staff have donned proper PPE (mask) prior to exiting their unit/building for the visit.
o Family must have proper PPE (mask) donned prior to the resident coming out for the visit.
o The PPE (masks) must be worn appropriately throughout the entire visit. If the PPE(mask) is taken off or worn incorrectly, the visit will end, visitors will be asked to leave, and the resident will be brought back inside the facility to their respective unit.
o Six feet social distancing must be maintained throughout the entire visit. If it is not maintained, the visit will end, and the resident will be brought back inside the facility to their respective unit.
o There will be no more than (3) visitors at any given time with the resident. This is to ensure we are abiding by the 5-person gathering mandate set forth by state and federal agencies.
 If more than 3 visitors arrive, they will be asked to leave by the staff member, as only 3 people will be able to visit during the designated visitation decided upon between the facility and the visitors.
o The staff member must maintain visual contact with the visitors and residents at all times during the visit.
o Each resident shall have no more than one (1) outdoor social-distancing or one (1) window visit or one (1) virtual visit per week to ensure all residents have the ability, if desired, to schedule and partake in visitation with family and friends.

Resident Testing
This week we started testing and re-testing all our residents. We want to assure you that residents and family members are being informed throughout this process. Regular testing will continue until public health officials feel there is no longer a risk. With this level of testing the state will try to identify areas with the most risk and posing the highest level of concern. They will strategically focus their response to assist nursing homes and appropriately respond to the needs of their residents.

Staff Testing
We appreciate your concern for our staff. We know there have been many references to testing being available to all staff and that the governor “wants” and “encourages” the testing of all nursing home staff. His newest Executive Order requires weekly testing of nursing home employees; We strongly support this idea are awaiting the state’s plan to address this. We understand that testing may begin as soon as June 14th.

The current numbers for our center are 34 COVID-19 recovered residents, 0 COVID-19 positive residents, and 1 COVID-19 positive staff member. Although the weather outside is becoming warmer and sunnier each day, it is important to remember that it is still necessary to be cautious and aware that the risks of COVID-19 are still present. Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!

~ From all of us at Bayview Health Care