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VISITATION PLAN
HOURS:
• General visitation with residents (with their consent) is allowed, with 24-hour access subject to reasonable restrictions
including clinical and safety restrictions as applicable. All entrances are open from 9:00am to 9:00pm. During after hours,
access may be obtained at the front entrance by ringing the doorbell and someone will provide assistance or by calling the
Nursing Supervisor at 716-640-2173.
• The core principles of inflection control must be followed. (See below). Visitors who are unable to adhere to the core
principles of COVID-19 infection prevention will not be permitted to visit and/or will be asked to leave.
• If you are able to safely transport and care for your loved one, you may continue to take them on a leave from the building for
a visit.
CRITERIA FOR VISITATION:
• Outdoor visitation (weather permitting) is preferred when the resident and/or visitor are not fully vaccinated (2 weeks past 2nd
dose of Pfizer or Moderna or 2 weeks past single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines) against COVID-19. A booster vaccine
is preferred as well as the full vaccination.
• Each visitor will be required to be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to resident access. If through
screening the visitor(s) exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms or does not pass the screening questions and/or temperature check,
visitation will be refused.
• Lutheran will also verify that all visitors have received a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result ONE DAY prior to visitation for
antigen tests (rapid), and TWO DAYS prior to visitation for NAAT (PCR) tests. All visitors may use either NAAT
testing or antigen testing. Written proof of test results must be submitted to the facility with the testing center’s name
present on the document. Home test (done within 24 hours) results will be verified by a photograph of the testing device with
the result clearly visible and the date written on the testing device (not beside it on a piece of paper).
o Exemptions: Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Compassionate care visitors for end of life vigil or significant mental, physical or social decline of
Resident.
Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel
• For visitors who visit for multiple days, including a visitor who visits every day, proof of a negative test conducted in the
required timeframe (every third day of visitation: ex. Mon, Thurs, Sun, etc.), and the visitor should test him/herself at the
facility.
• If a visitor does not have other valid proof of a negative test conducted in the required timeframe, the visitor should
test him/herself at the facility. Lutheran staff will provide a test kit to be done by the visitor (an instruction sheet will
be provided with the kit), and results will be confirmed prior to allowing visitation. If results are questionable, an RN
will be summoned to make the determination.
• Each visitor will be required to sign in on the visitation log and will need to provide the following information for the
purpose of potential contact tracing:
o First and last name.
o Physical (street) address of the visitor.
o Daytime and Evening telephone number.
o Date and time of visit.
o Vaccination status.
o Documentation of testing completed
• The facility will provide alcohol-based hand rub to visitors or representatives visiting residents and must be used prior to and
after visitation.
• Visitors are to go straight to the resident’s room or designated visitation area when in room visitation is not possible, and
must wear a mask to the visitation area. They should not be walking around different halls of the facility.
• Visitors should wash their hands upon entering the resident room and prior to leaving the room.
• If the county COVID-19 community level of transmission is:
o Substantial to high, all residents and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks (no cloth masks)
and physically distance by 6 feet at all times.
o In areas of low to moderate transmission, the safest practice is for residents and visitors to wear masks and
physically distance by 6 feet.
o If the resident and ALL visitors are fully vaccinated and the resident is not moderately or severely
immunocompromised, they may choose not to wear masks and have physical contact during the visitation.
o Unvaccinated residents may choose to have physical touch based on their preferences, including end of life
situations. In this case unvaccinated resident (or their representatives) and their visitors will be advised of the risks
of physical contact prior to the visit.
o Visitors should wear masks when around other residents or healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status.
• While not recommended, residents who are on transmission-based precautions or quarantine can still receive visitors. In these
cases, visits must be in the resident’s room and the resident should wear a well-fitting facemask (if tolerated). Before visiting
residents on precautions or quarantine, visitors will be made aware of potential risk of visiting and the necessary precautions
(personal protective equipment/distancing) in order to visit the resident.
LOCATIONS FOR VISITATION:
• Visitation will occur in the resident’s room and not in communal spaces. If a resident’s roommate is unvaccinated or
immunocompromised (regardless of vaccination status), visits should not be conducted in the resident’s room and will be
conducted in designated indoor visitation spaces. If the resident with visitors, or roommate cannot leave the room, in room
visitation with be conducted while adhering to the core principles of infection prevention.
• Window visits, video chatting through FaceTime/Skype/ZOOM, and phone calls will continue to ensure that all resident have
equal opportunities to see their loved ones.
COMPASSIONATE CARE VISITATION: Visitors may have compassionate visits with their loved one in anticipation of the end
of the resident’s life or in the instance of significant mental, physical or social decline, or crisis. This does not replace direct care that
Lutheran Clinical Staff provides. These visitations are subject to certain limitations as described below.
1. In the event a resident experiences a long-term or acute physical, mental, or psychosocial health condition for which, in
the opinion of the resident, their representative, or a health care professional, a resident’s designated personal caregiving
visitors may also provide compassionate caregiving in the resident’s room.
2. Situations in which a resident is eligible for a compassionate caregiving visitor include but are not limited to the
following:
A. end of life;
B. the resident is struggling with the transition to living in the facility;
C. the resident is grieving after a friend or family member recently passed away;
D. the resident needs cueing and encouragement with eating or drinking, and such cueing was previously provided
by family and/or caregiver(s), and the resident is now experiencing weight loss or dehydration; and
E. the resident, who used to talk and interact with others, is experiencing emotional distress, seldom speaking, or
crying more frequently (when the resident had rarely cried in the past).
3. Compassionate caregiving visitation shall be permitted at all times, regardless of any general visitation restrictions.
NOTE: It is critical for any visitor that tests positive after a visit; report it to the facility immediately.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• Any gifts or food that are brought to the resident should be in an original, closed package or in a container that can be
disinfected. They need to be checked by Lutheran staff, and wiped down with disinfectant prior to the start of the visit.
**This visitation plan is subject to change. Lutheran retains the right to change this visitation plan at any time. **
Developed: 8/20/2020 4/20/2021 7/14/2021 2/2022 Reviewed: 10/15/21
Revised: 9/8/2020 5/28/21 8/28/2021 5/2022
9/16/2020 6/10/2021 9/23/21
3/10/2021 6/17/2021 12/8/21
4/2/2021 7/12/21 1/2022