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April 2021 Edition
Calendar
May 6: PEAL/WCCEAL Webinar
May 6: Workforce Webinar
May 13: WHCA/WiCAL Leadership Academy: Session 1
May 13: WHCA/WiCAL Quality Committee Meeting
May 25: WHCA Committee and Board Meetings
June 10: Workforce Webinar
June 17: Leadership Academy: Session 2
June 22: WHCA Committee and Board Meetings
For Ready Reference
Dear WiCAL Members,

Recently, the Bureau of Assisted Living published an update to the visitation guidelines. These changes are consistent with the CDC guidelines updated a few weeks ago.

Please note: as of this issue, new CDC guidelines have just been published that change some infection control processes for visitation and testing based on vaccination status of staff, residents, and visitors. Wisconsin typically adopts CDC guidelines, but watch for that communication. We will keep you informed as we receive information from the Bureau of Assisted Living on how BAL will incorporate these new CDC guidelines into testing and visitation guidance for Wisconsin AL centers.

Facilities shall expand compassionate care visits already allowed to now support indoor visitation for all residents, regardless of vaccination status, except for a few circumstances when visitation should be limited due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Compassionate care visits shall be permitted at all times.

Facilities should limit indoor visitation for:

  • Unvaccinated residents if the facility’s COVID-19 county positivity rate is greater than 10% and less than 70% of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated;
  • Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions; or
  • Residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

If there is not an outbreak in the facility, or if the outbreak is limited to a single unit, floor, or wing, the facility shall allow visitation to an unaffected unit, or within a wing or floor where an outbreak was identified if the outbreak is contained, and interventions are in place for continued containment.

So, this means you must be open to visitors for visitation including indoor visits. You are not allowed to refuse visitation. What you must do is follow infection control protocols. You can do the following:

  • Screen all who enter the facility for all signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., temperature checks, questions or observations about signs or symptoms, close contact to someone with COVID-19 during the past 14 days, undergoing evaluation for COVID-19, such as a pending viral test due to exposure or close contact to a person with COVID-19), and deny entry of those with any signs or symptoms.
  • Educate visitors and residents to perform hand hygiene before and after visits (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred).
  • Monitor that visitors wear a well-fitting face covering or mask (covering mouth and nose) unless contraindicated. If there are barriers to masking, such as a medical reason, alternatives will be discussed with resident visitors and an individualized, alternate plan will be implemented that is acceptable to the facility and the visitor.
  • Communicate distancing expectations. Physical distancing is preferred, however updated CDC guidance now indicates that a fully vaccinated resident may have physical contact with visitors, including hugging and holding hands. If the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing hand-hygiene before and after contact. Visitors should continue to physically distance from all other residents and staff in the facility.
  • Post instructional signage throughout the facility and provide proper visitor education on COVID-19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face covering or mask, specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene).
  • You must allow privacy for visits.
  • Visitors who are unable to adhere to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention should not be permitted to visit or should be asked to leave. The facility should document the occurrence as you would any other event and include sufficient information to explain why the visitor was not permitted to visit and was asked to leave.

It is a wonderful change that our residents can see and touch their loved ones. This last year has been a great challenge to staff, residents and families alike. Embrace this positive change.

If you have any questions, contact Pat Boyer at pat@whcawical.org

Sincerely,

Pat Boyer
Director of Quality Advancement and Education
WHCA/WiCAL
Legislation and Advocacy
Here's where we need your help: Click HERE  to download a Word Document or HERE  to download a PDF petition that I would like you to circulate for signature to your employees, residents, tenants, their families and/or any Wisconsinite who is willing to sign-on to support long-term care. Read More
Education & Events
At its most fundamental level, leadership is about the ability to make a decision. Since we all make hundreds of decisions each day, everyone has leadership characteristics. Just having these characteristics does not mean that we are consistently good at exercising them. Like a muscle, leadership strength is developed through deliberate focus on the skills and behaviors that build leadership acumen. As your self-awareness of leadership matures, your impact and potential will grow. Read More

Hit the links with WHCA/WICAL on July 19 for the Annual Care Classic. WHCA/WiCAL is eager and excited to see our members and partners IN PERSON for the fundraising event. ALL golfers and non-golfers are encouraged to patriciate in this exceptionally fun day. Space is limited to 33 foursomes, so we encourage you to register early! Read More

Join us for the third of our 6-part webinar series focused on support for you and your workforce. Each session features an informative presentation on a timely topic from one of the talented psychological associates at Behavioral Care Solutions, our webinar series sponsor.   Read More

Yesterday, WHCA/WiCAL held a WiCAL Learning Session on the Performance Excellence in Assisted Living (PEAL) program. Read More
COVID-19
Effective April 19, 2021, the guidance to assisted living facilities and the guidance to nursing homes that offer on-site hair salon and barber services has been updated. The cosmetologist is no longer limited to providing services to only one other salon in addition to the facility. Read More
Other News
The WHCA/WiCAL website has a FREE Career Center tool where members can post open positions in their facilities. Read More

The Department of Health Services Bureau of Assisted Living recently invited employees of assisted living facilities to participate in a Quality Assurance/Improvement Survey. The survey is set up to collect anonymous responses. Do not provide any personally identifiable information in your responses. Assisted living facilities include adult day care centers, 3-4 bed adult family homes, community-based residential facilities, and residential care apartment complexes. Read More

Behavioral Consulting Services is offering free counseling to Assisted Living and Nursing Facility staff who are experiencing mental health or substance use issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read More

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is opening a 30-day public comment period for the draft of the 2021 Wisconsin Medicaid Managed Care Quality... Read More
Make Your Voice Heard in Madison! Donate to the WHCA/WiCAL PAC!
  
Every member facility is being asked for $2/bed. WHCA/WiCAL needs your help to ensure that we get our message out. 

Please write your
personal check to WHCA/WiCAL PAC and send it to:

131 W. Wilson St. #1001
Madison, WI 53703

-OR-

Go to www.whcawical.org/pac to donate using your personal credit card! You can make a single payment or set up recurring contributions.
Pledge Partner Spotlight
Martin Bros
Martin Bros. is a customer-centric, employee-owned company that has been built on the foundation of strong family values. Over our 80-year history, we have made it a priority to walk alongside our business partners to better understand the challenges that come with caring for our most vulnerable population. We also know operational excellence can only be achieved when residents are happy, receiving quality care by trained and engaged staff members every single day. By connecting our customers to innovative solutions and quality products from brands you trust, we ensure all things are working together to help drive results!

Learn More about Martin Bros at: www.martinbros.com


CONTACT:
Tim Yoder
920-420-7165

Christy Edwards
608-343-3194

For the complete listing of WHCA/WiCAL Pledge Partners, click HERE!
WHCA/WiCAL: The Wisconsin Health Care Association/Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing, protecting and advancing the interests of Wisconsin's long-term care provider community and the residents they serve.