August 12, 2020

Dear Resident and Family Member,

We have received some updated guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health related to outdoor visitation and we have updated our plan accordingly.

The additional guidance has been added in red for your ease.  All other guidance previously communicated remains in place:

We are excited to open for outdoor visitation, weather permitting, on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 9:30am.  Some key points from our Plan:
• In order to allow everyone to participate in this program we are limiting each resident’s visits to 20 minutes, 2 times per week. 
• Visitations must be limited to no more than two visitors per resident.  Both visitors must be from the same household. No visitors under the age of 18 are permitted.
• Visiting hours will be from 9:30am to 3:00pm with a break for resident lunches.
• Visits will take place in the front parking lot.
• Visitors may not enter the building for any reason, including using the restroom.
• Visits will need to be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance by calling the facility. (see Plan for details)
• Residents and visitors must wear a face mask for the duration of the visit.
• Social distancing of 6 feet must be maintained throughout the duration of the visit.

Visitors will be pre-screened by telephone and again upon arrival.  Residents will also be screened prior to the scheduled visit.  Anyone with a temperature ≥100.0⁰ F will not be allowed to visit.  Anyone with any of the following symptoms will also be precluded from visiting:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Visitors who develop symptoms of COVID-19 within 3 days after visiting, must notify the facility immediately.

Our full Outdoor Visitation Plan can be found on our website below.

Sincerely,
Cheryl Hahn
Administrator

OUTDOOR VISITATION PLAN

This facility is developing this plan in accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health guidance dated June 18, 2020.

The guidance dated June 18, 2020 from IDPH states that Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) may allow outdoor visitation for residents when the following conditions have been met:

1. Visitation must be limited to two visitors at a time per resident.

2. The facility must determine the maximum number of residents and visitors allowed in the outdoor space at one time based on the size of the outdoor space, ensuring that a minimum of six feet social distancing is achievable.

3. The LTCF must clearly communicate and enforce social distancing of six feet between the resident and all visitors.

4. The facility must set the maximum number of visitors allowed in a single day.

5. Visitors must schedule an appointment with the facility to visit a resident.

6. The LTCF must prescreen visitors via phone with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptom checklist not more than 24 hours in advance.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html  If a visitor is exhibiting any of the symptoms on the checklist, they will not be allowed to visit.

7. The facility must screen visitors upon arrival with the same CDC symptom checklist as well as a temperature check.

8. Visitors displaying symptoms will not be allowed to visit.

9. Residents with Active COVID-19 infections, either laboratory confirmed or symptomatic, are not allowed to participate in outdoor visits.

10. Residents receiving visitors must be screened with the same CDC symptom checklist prior to the visitor’s arrival.

11. Outdoor spaces for visiting must have a separate ingress and egress which does not require the visitor to enter the LTCF building.

12. Visitors must not enter the facility at any time, including use of the restroom.

13. For the duration of each visit, the resident and visitor must wear a face covering.

14. The facility may set the time of duration of each visit.

15. The facility should have supervision during each visit to ensure the use of face covering and social distancing.  The facility may determine whether supervision is continuous or intermittent.

This facility will meet the above guidelines as follows:

1. Visitation will be limited to two visitors at a time per resident.  The visitors, if two, must be from the same household. No visitors under the age of 18 will be permitted.

2. The facility must determine the maximum number of residents and visitors allowed in the outdoor space at one time based on the size of the outdoor space, ensuring that a minimum of six feet social distancing is achievable.
   1. The facility will utilize the parking lot area near the main entrance. In order to meet the social distancing requirements, only 3 residents will be allowed to visit with their families at any given time.

3. The LTCF will clearly communicate and enforce social distancing of six feet between the resident and all visitors.
   1. This written plan will be distributed to all residents of the facility as of the date of this plan.
   2. This written plan will be e-mailed to the resident representative of each resident residing in the facility as of the date of this plan.
   3. This written plan will be posted on the facility website.
   4. This written plan will be made a part of the admission packet so that all new residents/resident representatives are aware of this plan.

4. The facility has set the maximum number of visitors allowed in a single day as follows:
   1. In order to allow for visits for all those wishing to participate, this facility will allow a 20 minute visit.
   2. Visits will be scheduled every 30 minutes, allowing 10 minutes in between visits to clean and sanitize the visiting area.
   3. To ensure meal times take place inside the facility, visiting hours will be as follows:
      1. 9:30am to 11:20pm
      2. 1:00pm to 3:00pm

5. Visitors must schedule an appointment with the facility to visit a resident.
   1. The facility will keep an appointment log. 
   2. Appointments can be made by contacting the Admissions Department Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm.
   3. In order to comply with the pre-screening requirements, appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
   4. In order to ensure that everyone is able to visit, we will be limiting each resident to two visits per week.

6. The LTCF must prescreen visitors via phone with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptom checklist not more than 24 hours in advance.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html  

 If a visitor is exhibiting any of the symptoms on the checklist, they will not be allowed to visit.

7. A facility representative will call the scheduled visitor not more than 24 hours in advance of the scheduled visit to complete the prescreening.  If the visitor is not available and does not contact the facility prior to the scheduled visit, the visit will be cancelled.
8. The results of the prescreening will be logged onto the VISITOR PRE-SCREENING FORM.

7. The facility will screen visitors upon arrival with the same CDC symptom checklist.  Additionally, the visitor will have his/her temperature taken and recorded.
   1. Upon arrival to the facility, the visitor will be screened for symptoms, including a temperature check, by a facility representative. 
   2. The visitor will be asked to sign the checklist acknowledging that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms based on the CDC symptom checklist.
   3. Any visitor with a temperature of 100.0⁰ F greater or any other symptoms on the above-referenced checklist will not be allowed to visit.
   4. Additionally, each visitor will be asked to sign a release of liability.
   5. Visitors displaying symptoms will not be allowed to visit.
   6. Visitors will be informed upon arrival that if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19 within 3 days after visiting, they must notify the facility immediately.

8. Residents with Active COVID-19 infections, either laboratory confirmed or symptomatic, are not allowed to participate in outdoor visits.

9. Residents receiving visitors will be screened with the same CDC symptom checklist prior to the visitor’s arrival. 

10. The facility has chosen outdoor spaces for visiting that have a separate ingress and egress which does not require the visitor to enter the LTCF building.

11. Visitors will not be allowed to enter the facility at any time, including use of the restroom.

12. For the duration of each visit, the resident and visitor must wear a face covering.
    1. In order to conserve masks, the facility will ask visitors to supply their own face coverings.  If visitors are unable to do so, the facility will provide face coverings for visitors.

13. The facility has set the time of duration of each visit as follows:
    1. The facility has set a duration time of 20 minutes per visit, which is may be adjusted based on the number of requested visits.
    2. This plan will be updated if this duration is changed.  All residents and resident representatives will be notified if a change is made.

14. The facility will have supervision during each visit to ensure the use of face covering and social distancing.  The facility will make every effort to provide continuous supervision, but based on facility circumstances, including available staff, the facility may choose to have intermittent supervision.
    1. The facility will assign a staff member who will supervise these outdoor visits.  This staff member’s responsibilities will include:
       1. Screening visitors upon arrival.
       2. Ensuring visitors have completed the proper screening form.
       3. Ensuring visitors have signed the Release of Liability
       4. Ensuring that masks are worn throughout the entire visit
       5. Ensuring that social distancing of a minimum of 6 feet is maintained throughout the duration of the visit.
       6. Sanitizing tables/chairs after each visit.

For the safety of our residents, staff and visitors, it is imperative that this plan be followed as written.  To maintain a safe environment for all, the facility has put the following rules in place:

1. The facility reserves the right to cancel any scheduled visits at its discretion.  Some examples of potential reasons for cancelations include, but are not limited to, inclement weather, dangerously hot temperatures, poor air quality advisories, staffing issues, resident request, etc.

2. Any visitor who is disruptive and does not adhere to facility/State requirements for visitation will be asked to leave, and may not be allowed to return.

3. In order to maintain social distancing, no outside food, gifts, etc. can be given directly to the resident during the scheduled visit.  Please hand anything you would like to give to the resident to the staff members who is supervising.

4. New admissions to the facility or residents returning from the hospital must be placed on 14-day quarantine upon arrival to the facility, and therefore, will be unable to participate in outdoor visitation until day 15 if they are well and not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms.

5. In order to allow the appropriate time for cleaning and disinfecting the visiting areas, the facility reserves the right to cancel visitation if a visitor arrives late.