No Resident Left Alone
At times there may be circumstances which restrict Resident visitation, such as pandemic flu or presence of infectious diseases which may require isolation. Florida Statute 408.823, the “No Patient Left Alone Act” requires Marina Isle Waterfront Assisted Living Community to implement policy that allows a Resident to have in-person visits by an Essential Caregiver during these circumstances.
Purpose: In-Person Visitation bill has been signed into law, creating Chapter 408.823, which is subject “In-person visitation.” This policy and these procedures are intended to comply with the regulations set forth in Chapter 408.823, Florida Statutes. A resident may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors. To prevent the spread of infections and communicable diseases from residents, staff and visitors.
Policy Statement:
The following are the procedures to be followed to identify Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors s for residents and the expectations. These procedures will be administered equally to all residents that request to have an Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and transgender status), age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors provide emotional support to help a resident deal with a difficult transition or loss, upsetting event, making major medical decisions, needs cueing to eat and drink, stops speaking, or end-of-life. Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors will be allowed entry into facilities for these specific purposes. Visitation will be between 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Procedures:
Marina Isle Assisted Living will designate Jody Bostick, Administrator, as key staff to support infection prevention and control training and oversee staff adherence to visitation policies and procedures.
Marina Isle will set a limit on the total number of visitors per resident in the facility at any given time based on the ability of staff to safely screen and monitor and the space to accommodate the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors. Each resident is allowed to have two visitors for at least 2 hours. Arrangements can be made for additional time and number of visitors. Essential care giver gets 2 additional hours (total of 4hours)
a. Identify locations for visitation/care to occur planning for residents in shared spaces and facilities with minimal common space to identify maximum time availability.
b. 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
c. 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.
· All residents and/or POA/Guardian if appropriate will be asked if they want to identify an Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors (updateable upon request)
· All new residents will be asked if they would like to identify an Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors upon move-in (updatable upon request).
· No more than one Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors may be designated per resident.
· All consensual physical contact between a resident, client and visitors are allowed.
Residents are allowed in-person visitation in all the following circumstances, unless the resident, client, or patient objects:
a) End-of-life situations.
b) 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.
c) The resident, client, or patient is making one or more major medical decisions.
d) A resident, client, or patient is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.
e) A resident, client, or patient needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.
f) A resident, client, or patient who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.
1 This policy does NOT prohibit Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visitor visits, if the specific resident to be visited is quarantined, tested positive, or showing symptoms of a communicable disease. Visits in these circumstances will likely require a higher level of PPE than standard surgical masks. The general visitation requirement that the facility has no new facility-onset cases of a communicable disease is not applicable to visitation by Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors.
Visitors are NOT required to provide results of vaccination or immunization.
To facilitate visits by Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors upon a request from a resident or friend/family member:
1. The residents (or their representative) will read and sign the policy and procedures. The acknowledgement of the signature represents that the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visitor will abide by the policies set forth in this document.
2. The Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visitor will complete training on infection prevention and control including the use of PPE, use of masks (AS PER FACEMASKING POLICY), hand sanitation.
3. Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) per facility’s Infection Control Policies during times of infectious outbreaks (outlined in FACEMASKING POLICY):
· Preventing infection for visitors – hand washing and sanitizer use
· Mask’s Do’s and Don’ts
· Putting on PPE
The PPE required must be consistent with the most recent CDC guidance for healthcare workers. As the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors, the same PPE that staff wear to provide care or services to the residents. Administrator/staff will provide assistance as needed.
4. The Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors 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.
5. Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visits may take place in the resident’s room, or a designated area determined by administrator/staff at the time of visitation.
When an Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visit, the facility will:
1. Thoroughly screen the visitor per the facility’s infection control policy and procedure and document the name of the individual, the date and time of entry, and the screening mechanism
used, along with the screening employee’s name and signature. Essential caregiver visitors cannot be denied entry. Just as with staff entering the building.
2. Ensure that the required consents, and training and policy acknowledgements are in place.
3. Ensure that the caregiver/visitor has appropriate PPE if applicable.
4. Require the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visitor to sign in and out on the visitor log.
5. Monitor the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visitor’s adherence to policies and procedures.
6. If the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors visitor fails to follow the facility’s infection prevention and control requirements, after attempts to mitigate concerns, shall restrict or revoke visitation.
7. In the event the Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors status is revoked due to the individual not following the
facility’s policy and procedures, the resident may select a different Essential Caregiver Visitors/Visitors who will be granted visitation rights upon agreeing to policies and procedures. (If visitor plans to stay during mealtimes, special accommodation must be made for this and notification is required).
8. Will sign the visitor acknowledgement and consent form.
Procedure Title: Standard Precautions Training
Procedure: Please see attached training handouts for infection control