A Pericles Elderly Care Home

It is the policy of this facility to encourage family visits and family involvement in our client’s/residents’ daily lives, however due to the Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, (COVID-19) pandemic we are required by federal, state and local regulations to implement new visitation polices. These guidelines supersede any previous agreed upon facility visitation policies that were signed during our admission agreement.

President Trump and CDC guidelines found in the “Opening Up America Again” plan dictate a three phase approach to lifting all facility visitation restrictions.

Phase I: Visits to Senior Living Facilities and Hospitals should be prohibited. Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene.

Phase II: Visits to Senior Living Facilities and Hospitals should be prohibited. Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene.

Phase III: Visits to Senior Care Facilities and Hospitals can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene.

A reminder that our residents are vulnerable individuals as found in the Appendix -Vulnerable Individuals:

1. Elderly Individuals

2. Individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.

Based on those directions, the California Department of Social Services have implement a Provider Information Notice (PIN) system that can be located and followed at any time by visiting: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing.

PIN 20-24-ASC and PIN 20-23-ASC include updated Visitation Policy requirements that must be followed by all California Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) facilities.

Visitation Waiver Note: SUPERSEDES Visitation Waiver in PIN 20-09-CCLD Visitation by non-essential individuals should be limited until all of the following conditions are met:

• There have been no new transmissions of COVID-19 at the facility for 14 days.

• Facility is not experiencing staff shortages.

• Licensee has adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential cleaning supplies to care for persons in care.

• Licensee has adequate access to COVID-19 testing as outlined in the “Testing for COVID-19 in Residential Facilities” section in PIN 20-23-ASC.

• Facility is requiring visitors to wear face coverings (i.e. facemasks or cloth face coverings).

During the time when visitation is limited, facilities shall make arrangements for alternate means of visitation and communication for visitors such as, drive-by visits, visits through a resident’s window, phone calls, video calls, and online communications.

Visits and communications should allow for private and/or confidential communications as needed, and as required by law. A facility may quarantine or cohort residents together as necessary for containment and mitigation only.

During the time when visitation is limited as indicated above, following exceptions apply:

• Allow limited visits on the facility premises where there is 6 feet or more physical distancing, source control, and infection control (e.g. drive-by visits or visit through a resident’s window).

• Allow visitation for medically necessary visits (e.g. end-of-life) or other urgent health or legal matters that cannot be postponed (e.g. estate planning, advance health care directives, Power of Attorney, transfer of property title).

• Allow visitation for social workers who are legally responsible for a person’s care to carry out their duties.

• As otherwise required in the Visitation Waiver in PIN 20-09-CCLD.

• Allow CDSS, CDPH, local health department officials, healthcare providers, Ombudsman, and essential government authority to enter or conduct investigations at the facility. Other Safety Protocols

• Allow scheduled visits on the facility premises where there is 6 feet or more physical distancing, and both residents and visitors wear face coverings with staff monitoring infection control guidelines (e.g. large communal spaces, outdoor visits, space close to facility entrance to reduce traffic in facility).

• To the extent possible, visits should take place outside. Where appropriate, designate an outdoor area, such as the yard, patio, open porches, parking lot, or driveway for visits, weather permitting.

•Visits should be scheduled at least 20 minutes in advance and last a maximum of 60 minutes.

• We limit the number of visitors at any one time to avoid having large groups congregate.

• Screen all visitors for symptoms, including temperature screenings.

• Visitors should physically distance at least 6 feet during their visit.