In-Person Visitation Policy
Exhibits: A) Florida Law Chapter 2022-34 Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 988; B) Resident Essential Caregiver Designation Form; and C) Essential Caregiver Acceptance Form.
Adoption Date: May 6, 2022
Purpose
In-Person Visitation bill has been signed into law, creating Chapter 408-823, which is subject “in-person visitation.” This policy and these procedures are intended to serve to comply with the regulations set forth in Chapter 408.823, Florida Statutes. A resident, client, or patient may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individuals as an essential caregiver.
Policy
In regards to visitation, in accordance with Chapter 429.28 (1) (d), Florida Statutes, The Clair Winston House, LLC policy is to allow residents to visit with any person of his or her choice during visitation hours of 9 am–9 pm. This policy allows for consensual physical contact between a resident, client, or patient and the visitor. Upon request, The Clair Winston House, LLC shall make provisions to extend visiting hours for caregivers and out-of-town guests and other similar situations. All visitors must comply with facility infection control screening and appropriate use of PPE. We will encourage hand hygiene by posting signage in the common area and making hand sanitizer available.
The following are the procedures to be followed to identify Essential Caregivers for residents and the expectations. These procedures will be administered equally to all residents that request to have an essential caregiver, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and transgender status), age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Essential caregiver visitors provide emotional support to help a resident deal with a difficult transition or loss, upsetting event, making major medical decisions, cueing to eat and drink, speaking, or end-of-life. Essential caregiver visitors may be allowed entry into a facility on a limited basis for these specific purposes. The Clair Winston House, LLC will allow, at a minimum in-person visitation with an essential caregiver for at least 2 hours daily under these circumstances in addition to any other visitation. At The Clair Winston House, LLC, the 2-hour visitation will be between 9 am–9 pm. The administrator may make exceptions to the 2-hour visitation times on a case-by-case basis. These exceptions will be discussed and agreed upon in writing or verbally by the facility’s designee and the resident’s responsible party.
Procedures:
For designation and utilization of essential caregiver visitors
1. The Clair Winston House, LLC will provide the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) with a copy of the facility’s essential caregiver visitor’s policy and procedure, with the initial licensure, application, renewal application, and/or change of ownership application.
2. The Clair Winston House, LLC essential caregiver visitor’s policy and procedure is available to view at the facility.
3. The Clair Winston House, LLC will designate Stephanie Howell as key staff to support infection prevention and control training.
4. The Clair Winston House, LLC will set a limit on the total number of visitors allowed inside the facility at any given time based on the ability of staff to safely screen and monitor the space to accommodate the essential caregiver visitors. A resident may be permitted to have several visitors at a time as long as staff availability allows for proper screening. We strongly encourage arranging larger visits with Administration so that they can:
a. Identify locations for visitation/care to occur, planning for residents in shared spaces and facilities with minimal common space to identify maximum time availability.
b. Provide outdoor visitation spaces that are protected from weather elements, such as porches, courtyards, patios, or other covered areas that are protected from heat and sun, with cooling devices, if needed.
c. Create indoor visitation spaces for residents in a room that is not accessible by other residents or in a resident’s private room if the resident is bedbound and, for health reasons, cannot leave his or her room.
5. All residents and/or POA/guardian, if appropriate, will be asked if they want to identify as Essential Caregiver.
6. All new residents will be asked if they would like to identify an Essential Caregiver upon moving in. And will be given the opportunity to do so upon admission.
7. All residents will be allowed to update, as requested, the named Essential Caregiver of record within 2 business days of request.
8. Residents are allowed in-person visitation, and The Clair Winston House, LLC welcomes visitors especially, but not limited to all of the following circumstances, unless the resident, client, or patient objects:
a.) End-of-Life situations.
b.) A resident, client, or patient who was living with family before being admitted to the provider’s care is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support.
c.) The resident, client, or patient is making one or more major medical decisions.
d.) A resident, client, or patient is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.
e.) A resident, client, or patient needs cueing or encouragement or eat or drink, which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.
f.) A resident, client, or patient who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.
9. Maintain a visitor log for signing in and out.
10. No more than 1 essential caregiver visitor may be designated per resident.
11. This policy does NOT prohibit essential caregiver visitor visits if the specific resident to be visited is quarantined, tested positive, or showing symptoms of a communicable disease. Visits in these circumstances will likely require a higher level of PPE than standard surgical masks. The general visitation requirement that the facility has no new facility-onset cases of a communicable disease (for example, COVID-19) is not applicable to visitation by essential caregiver visitors.
12. The Clair Winston House, LC is not required to provide for “facility–provided COVID-19 testing if, and only if, it is based on the most recent DC and FDA guidance. The cost of this testing cannot be passed on to the visitor.
13. All visitors, including Essential caregiver visitors, must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) per the facility’s Infection Control Policies. The PPE required must be consistent with the most recent CDC guidelines for healthcare workers. At The Clair Winston House, LLC, the essential caregiver visitors shall wear the same PPE that staff wears to provide care or services to the resident.
14. Any changes to The Clair Winston House, LLC essential caregiver visitor policies must be promptly communicated to affected residents and essential caregiver visitors.
II. To facilitate visits by Essential Caregiver visitors upon a request from a resident or friend/family member:
1. The resident (or their representative) will read and sign the policy and procedures. The acknowledgment of the signature represents that the essential caregiver visitor will abide by the policies set forth in this document.
2. The essential caregiver visitor will complete training on The Clair Winston House, LLC’s infection prevention and control, including the use of PPE, use of masks, hand sanitation, and social distancing.
3. The essential caregiver visitor must immediately inform the facility if they develop symptoms consistent with a communicable disease within 24 hours of their last visit to the facility.
4. Essential caregiver visits may take place in the resident’s room or a designated area determined by The Clair Winston House, LLC, at the time the visitation schedule is developed and agreed upon.
III. When an essential caregiver visitor is scheduled to visit, the facility will:
1. The Clair Winston House, LLC will thoroughly screen the visitor per the facility’s infection control policy and procedure and document the name of the individual, the date and time of the entry, and the screening mechanism used, along with the screening employee’s name and signature. Just as with staff entering the building, if the visitor fails the screening, the visitor CANNOT be allowed entry.
2. The Clair Winston House, LLC will ensure that the required consents, training, and policy acknowledgments are in place.
3. The Clair Winston House, LLC will ensure that the caregiver visitor has appropriate PPE if applicable.
4. The Clair Winston House, LLC will require the essential caregiver visitor to sign in and out on the visitor log.
5. The Clair Winston House, LLC will monitor the essential caregiver visitor’s adherence to policies and procedures.
6. If the essential caregiver visitor fails to follow the facility’s infection prevention and control requirements, after attempts to mitigate concerns, The Clair Winston House, LLC shall restrict or revoke visitation.
7. In the event the essential caregiver visitor’s status is revoked due to the individual not following the facility’s policy and procedures, the resident may select a different essential caregiver visitor who will be granted visitation rights upon proper vetting and agreeing to The Clair Winston House, LLC policies and procedures.