August 28, 2020
Dear Clients, Families and Team Members:
"Level 2" Visitor & Activity Guidance
The Department of Health has laid out guidelines for expanding some visitor and activity restrictions; the state and us are calling this "Level 2" for future reference.
This new guidance is taking us some time to review and implement due to risk factors we have identified. Until we can safety implement, please note the following visitation options we have made available to you:
- Virtual Visits
- Window Visits
-
Outdoor Visits (check out our website for sign up times)!
- Compassionate Care/End of Life Visits
-
Essential Caregiver Visits (see expansion of this below)!
When we do open up to more visitation and activities, we will be monitoring the risk factors (cases in our county and neighboring county), including whether we have a positive case that requires us to move back to a more restrictive policy. This means we may have to move quickly back to more restrictions for visitors so we will notify families of our current visitation levels via Constant Contact (e-newsletter), our Facebook page and our website.
We will be carefully implementing a safe and measured process to allow greater visitation in our community based on our specific circumstances and review of risk factors.
Our facility plan is currently under development and will be available for your review on September 15th, 2020. Note that we are working hard to address the factors that need to be in place before we can safely open-up for more visitation and activities. Some of these missing factors are testing capabilities for residents and staff if needed, staffing ratios, access to PPE, and county case rates (10 per 10,000) lowering.
Essential Caregiver (i.e. Inside Visits) Updates
Starting Monday, August 31st, we are expanding our Essential Caregivers to TWO per client! Also, we are expanding those inside visit times!
- Mondays - Fridays at 5 pm
- Mondays - Fridays at 6:45 pm
- Sundays at 1 pm
- Sundays at 5 pm
How to Add a 2nd Essential Caregiver
1.) Have a discussion on which second person will become the designated essential Caregiver.
2.) Read the policy attached to this message and watch our "Training and FAQ Video" by clicking here.
3.) Complete the "Quiz" to verify that the information has been covered.
4.) We will need the Designated Essential Caregiver Form filled out and a photo head shot of the caregiver returned to one of our nurses.
5.) Once approved, a nurse will confirm with you and a link to sign up for INDOOR visits will be sent to you with the expanded times above. This link is for approved Essential Caregivers only.
**Reminder, Essential Caregivers can also transport with the following guidelines:
- Must schedule with Serenity Nurse so we can communicate to staff when a client is out of the building
-
Drive thru is ok, but NOT going in grocery stores, restaurants, hair salons, etc. Doing so will ensue a 14-day quarantine upon return.
- No other people can be in the car (just caregiver and client) during the drive.
- For the first week at minimum, these drives are only approved to happen Monday-Friday.
- Clients AND Caregivers are to wear a mask the entire time.
Please read through each of these documents below thoroughly and reach out if you have any questions and when a second Essential Caregiver has been designated.
Quarantine or Not Quarantine
Please read through the last attachment regarding the scenarios when the Department of Health is recommending Quarantine in our facilities versus not.
Happy Friday!
Sincerely,
Elaine Anderson
