Policy: To provide members, families and staff with a safe and informed visitation experience.
Procedure:
Testing and Screening for Visitors:
All visitors will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to visitation by the front desk receptionist or designee.
The Firemen’s Home will verify that visitors have received a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result one day prior to visitation for antigen tests and two days prior to visitation for NAAT (e.g. PCR) tests. These negative test results must be from a licensed medical practitioner. At home rapid test results will not be accepted.
Proof of SARS-CoV-2 test results will be collected by the front desk receptionist or designee.
The Firemen’s Home will provide a visitor with an iHealth OTC COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test if he/she does not have other valid proof of a negative test conducted in the required timeframe, and the visitor will test him/herself at the entrance of the facility. Testing supplies an instructions will be provided at the front entrance. Assistance with testing will be provided upon request.
The results of self-testing for visitors will not be reported either to ECLRS or to HERDS.
For visitors who visit for multiple days, including a visitor who comes every day, proof of negative testing is required as often as feasible, at a minimum every third day (meaning at a minimum testing is required on day one, day 4, day 7, and so on).
Visitors who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter the facility.
Mask, Personal Protective Equipment, and Physical Distancing Requirements for
Visitors:
All visitors must:
- Wear a well-fitting non-surgical paper mask or a mask of higher quality (i.e., surgical mask, KN95 or N95) at all times during any visitation at the facility. If the visitor wishes, a cloth mask may be placed over the paper mask. The masks must cover both the nose and the mouth.
- Physically distance from facility personnel and other patients/residents/visitors that are not directly associated with the specific resident(s) being visited by that individual.
The Firemen’s Home will adhere to the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention
which include the following:
- Hand hygiene and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Wear a well-fitting non-surgical paper mask or a mask of higher quality
- Physical distancing at least six feet in between people
- Instructional signage will be posted throughout the facility with proper visitor education
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 areas, hand hygiene).
- Cleaning and disinfecting of high touched surfaces in the facility, including visitation areas will be performed.
- All staff must be masked at all times, regardless of vaccination or booster status
- Member and staff testing conducted as required at 42 CFR § 483.80(h) (see QSO-20-38-
NH REVISED (PDF)) as referenced in NH-DAL 21-23 issued October 27, 2021.
Communal Activities, Dining and Member Outings
While adhering to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention, communal activities and dining may occur. Book clubs, crafts, movies, exercise, and bingo are all activities that can be facilitated with alterations to adhere to the guidelines for preventing transmission.
The Firemen’s Home will permit members to leave the facility as they choose but will remind the member and any individual accompanying the member to follow all recommended infection prevention practices include use of face coverings or mask, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.
Members who leave the facility for 24 hours or longer will generally be managed as a Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes.
Ombudsman Program
The facility will provide representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman with immediate access to any member. If an ombudsman is planning to visit a member who is in TBP or quarantine, or an unvaccinated member when the county level of community transmission is substantial or high in the past 7 days, the member and ombudsman will be made aware of the potential risk of visiting, and the visit should take place in the member’s room.
Representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman should adhere to the core principles of COVID- 19 infection prevention as described above. If the member or the Ombudsman program requests alternative communication in lieu of an in-person visit the facility will facilitate alternative member communication with the Ombudsman program, such as by phone or through use of other technology.
State Survey Agency Responsibilities:
The Firemen’s Home will not restrict access to surveyors based on vaccination status, NOR ask a surveyor to demonstrate proof of vaccination status as a condition of entry.
Surveyors will not be permitted to enter the facility if they have a positive viral test for COVID-19 or they are exhibiting signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
State Surveyors should also adhere to the core principles of COVID19 infection prevention and adhere to any COVID-19 infection prevention requirements set by federal and state agencies (including Executive Orders).
Reference:
Health Advisory: Nursing Home Staff and VisitationRequirements: https://apps.health.ny.gov/pub/ctrldocs/alrtview/postings/Health_Advisory_Nursing_Home_Visitation_1-12-22_(003)_1642023748986_0.pdf
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Keith Henchey at (518) 828-7695, Ext. 112 or email at khenchey@fasny.com