Arcadia Oaks will maintain infection control practices in an ongoing effort to decrease the chance of infection and transmission within the community. Due to recent changes in the Florida Statutes, residents are allowed to have visitors, while we continue our diligence in preventing infections, in all the following circumstances, unless the resident, client, or patient objects:

• End-of-life situations.

• A resident, client, or patient who was living with family before being admitted to the provider’s care is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support.

• The resident, client, or patient is making one or more major medical decisions.

• A resident, client, or patient is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.

• A resident, client or patient needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink that was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.

• A resident, client or patient who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.

• For hospitals, childbirth (including labor and delivery) and pediatric patients.

 

Policy and Procedures:

Arcadia Oaks Assisted living. will follow any changes in guidelines, or requirements to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of all residents and staff. If for any reason, we need to restrict visitation due to health and safety concerns, we will provide alternative visitation protocols.

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For example, a visit can occur in the resident’s room, outside or in a designated common area.

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1. General Visitors and Essential Caregiver Visitors:

The following are the procedures to be followed relating to visitation and to identify Essential Caregivers for residents as well as the expectations of both General Visitors and Essential Caregivers.

• Hand sanitizer is available for use.

• Visiting hours are flexible based on the resident and the visitors’ schedules.

• Arcadia Oaks Assisted Living will permit a minimum of 2 hours daily for essential caregivers.

• Any changes in the visitation protocols will be communicated to the family, responsible party or representative in advance.

• Visitors can visit in a designated common area or in the resident’s apartment.

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2. For compliance with Florida Statute Chapter 408.823, designation and utilization of essential caregiver visitors and rules of visitation.

a. The community will provide the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) with a copy of the Community’s visitor policy and procedure, with the initial licensure application, renewal application and/or change of ownership application.

b. The visitation policy and procedure for the Community, including Essential Caregiver designation and visitation, shall be available on the home page of Community website.

c. Unless otherwise designated by the administrator, the shift supervisor shall be responsible for infection prevention and control training.

d. The Administrator will set a limit on the total number of visitors allowed in the Community at any given time based on the ability of staff to safely screen and monitor the space to accommodate General Visitors and/or the Essential Caregiver visitors. When there are no known cases of infection among residents currently residing in the Community, visitation will be unrestricted. In the event Residents currently residing in the Community are known to be infected, restrictions will be placed upon General Visitors to reduce the possible spread of infection. Visitation by Essential Caregivers will always be allowed. Efforts to continue General Visitation even when a infection positive resident is residing in the community shall be made, and protocols shall be implemented at the discretion of the Administrator along the lines of the following (when practical):

1. Identify locations for visitation/care to occur planning for residents in shared spaces and facilities with minimal common space to identify maximum time availability.

2. Provide outdoor visitation spaces that are protected from weather elements, such as porches, courtyards, patios, or other covered areas that are protected from heat and sun,

with cooling devices, if needed

3. Create indoor visitation spaces for residents in a room that is not accessible by other residents or in a resident’s private room if the resident is bedbound and for health reasons cannot leave

his or her room

e. All residents and/or POA/Guardian, if appropriate, will be asked if they want to identify an Essential Caregiver.

f. All new residents will be asked if they would like to identify an Essential Caregiver upon move-in.

g. named Essential Caregiver of record within 2 business days of request. All residents will be allowed to update, as requested, the 

h. The Community shall maintain a visitor log for signing in and out.

i. No more than three Essential Caregiver visitors may be designated per resident.

j. Essential Caregiver visitor visits may continue even if the specific resident to be visited is quarantined, tested positive for an infection or is showing symptoms of a communicable disease so long as the visits can be conducted safely, and all infection control protocols are followed by the Essential Caregiver and resident. Visits in these circumstances will likely require a higher level of PPE than standard surgical masks.

k. Essential Caregiver visitors must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) per Community’s Infection Control Policies. The PPE required must be consistent with the most recent CDC guidance for healthcare workers. At Arcadia Oaks Assisted living  the Essential Caregiver visitors shall wear the same PPE that staff wear to provide care or services to the resident.

l. General Visitors must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) per the Community’s Infection Control Policies at the time of their visit.

m. Any changes to Arcadia Oaks Assisted living Essential Caregiver visitor policies must be promptly communicated to affected residents and Essential Caregiver visitors.

 

3. To facilitate visits by General Visitors and Essential Caregiver visitors upon a request from a resident or friend/family member:

a. The resident (or their representative) will read and sign the visitation policy and procedures. The acknowledgement of the signature represents that the resident (or their representative) understands that both General Visitors and Essential Caregiver visitor must abide by the policies set forth in this document.

b. General Visitors must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) per the Community’s Infection Control Policies at the time of their visit.

c. The Essential Caregiver visitor will sign an acknowledgement of their receipt and understanding of the visitation policies and procedures. The Essential Caregiver’s signature represents that they have received the policies and procedures, they understand the policies and procedures and they agree to

abide by said policies and procedures.

d. The Essential Caregiver visitor will complete training on infection prevention and control including the use of PPE, use of masks, hand sanitation, and social distancing.

e. The Essential Caregiver visitor must immediately inform the facility if they develop symptoms consistent with a communicable disease within 24-hours of their last visit at the facility.

f. Essential Caregiver visits may take place in the resident’s room or a designated area determined by the Administrator at the time the visitation scheduled is developed and agreed upon.

g. General Visitor visits may take place in accordance with the infection control protocols at the time of the visit. Visits by General Visitors may be significantly limited when a resident residing in the Community is infected with a communicable infection.

h. Any changes to Arcadia Oaks Assisted living Essential Caregiver visitor policies must be promptly communicated to affected residents and Essential Caregiver visitors.

 

 

If you have any questions, please contact the administrator. The visitation policy

will be available at the screening location for your review and signature. The

essential caregiver form and acknowledgement will be available at the screening

location. Infection control policy and procedure will be available at the screening, caregiver- visitor must abide by the policies set forth in this document.