Indoor Visitation

Click here for the Visitation Signup Form

June 30, 2021

WE HAVE UPDATED OUR VISITATION POLICY

We have set up stations in our lobby and they are labeled 1-4. Visitation can also occur in the careplan meeting room and on the front porch. When you call to set up a visit, you will be assigned a station. If your loved one has a private room or if their roommate is not in the room, you may visit them in their room. Please come in the front door, check your temperature, fill out the COVID questionnaire and proceed to your station if you have no fever, symptoms or recent exposure. We ask that you continue to call to schedule your visit. Visit times are from 9am-9pm and will be an hour each visit. We are not currently restricting the amount of visits a resident has in one week (this may change if we are not able to accommodate all families). 3 visitors may come per visit- we may be able to accommodate more visitors for special occasions and circumstances- just notify us as soon as possible. We are currently asking that children under the age of 5 do not visit. Food may not be brought in to be consumed during a visit if visiting in the lobby or any common area. Masks must be worn by residents and visitors in all common areas. If a resident is in a private room or a visit is occurring in the care plan room AND ALL parties (resident and all visitors) are vaccinated, then the door may be shut, and masks may be removed. If the resident or ANY visitors are NOT vaccinated, then masks must be worn by all parties and social distancing must be maintained. We also ask that if a staff member enters the room that you apply your mask during that time. Please only visit with your loved one. This is especially important in case exposure does occur we can isolate appropriately. We would like to thank all of you for your understanding and support during these times. We are excited to be one step closer to fully opening. THANK YOU! If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to call Alex King at 301-733-2914 ext 115.

March 15, 2021

Families are now allowed to visit per scheduling with Melissa Cheshire-Saville. Visitation may occur three times a week for 30 minutes at a time with up to three visitors. Visitors will be screened upon arrival and asked to take a Rapid test. Social distancing and infection control protocols must occur during these visits unless resident has been fully vaccinated. If resident is fully vaccinated visitors can sit next to resident and do not have to social distance. Visitors may see their loved one in the care plan room, front lobby or in their room (if resident has a private room).

We will update you as changes develop.

Please make all arrangements through Melissa at 301-733-2914.

January 29, 2021

Unfortunately the Maryland State Health Department isn’t currently allowing visitors in nursing homes.

October 1, 2020

Indoor visitation: What does this mean, and how can families help make this successful?

We are eager to help reunite residents and their loved ones, and with your involvement, we can do this safely and smoothly.

Today during a press conference, Governor Larry Hogan announced that, effective immediately, indoor visitation in nursing homes may resume, and that facilities should follow the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance. Please note that the Maryland Department of Health has noted that assisted living facilities should follow this same guidance. Below, we will share some of the key facts that family members and loved ones of residents who are in nursing homes and assisted livings should know about what the CMS guidance allows, what it does not, the restrictions that are in place, and how each of you can help to make this successful.

What does “indoor visitation” during COVID-19 look like?

CMS guidance released on September 17 lays out restrictions that nursing homes must follow as they begin allowing visitors indoors.

Not every nursing home can start having indoor visitors. To start having indoor visitors, the nursing home must have had NO new onset COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days and not be currently conducting outbreak testing. Also, the county positivity rates must be in the “low” or “medium” categories. Nursing homes in counties with high positivity rates cannot conduct indoor visitation, except in compassionate care situations.
Visitors MUST comply with and adhere to the core principles of infection control.CMS has stated, and reiterated, the incredible importance of this. Nursing home staff are required to monitor if visitors are following these principles and will ask visitors to leave if they are having difficulty adhering.
Nursing homes must limit the number of visitors per resident, as well as thenumber of visitors in the building at any given time. This means nursing homes might schedule visits at certain times and days and limit the length of time a family member or loved one can visit.
Nursing homes must limit the movement of visitors in the facility. A visitor cannotwalk around the building in areas where they will not be visiting a resident. Nursing homes will direct visitors on the appropriate route to visit with their loved one, and visitors must follow all of these directions, signage, etc.
Visits will be in specific, designated areas. It is important to know that if your loved one is in a semi-private room with a roommate, nursing homes are not allowed to have visitors in the resident’s room.

What restrictions will visitors need to follow to visit safely?

The procedures may vary slightly between facilities, but the core restrictions and guidelines you will need to follow during a visit include:

• Completing a screening before entering the building. All visitors will be screened before entering the nursing home or assisted living. You will have your temperature taken and will be required to answer questions about symptoms, travel, and other potential exposures you may have had to COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• Hand washing. Visitors should practice hand hygiene before visiting. You may be asked to use alcohol-based hand rub or wash your hands with soap and water prior to being permitted entry to the nursing home.
• Wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) during entire visit. Mask wearing remains one of the best tools we have to stop the spread of COVID-19. Masks protect others from you, as well as you from others. Visitors will be required to wear masks and may also be required to wear other PPE.
• Social distancing during the entire visit. We recognize the challenge of not being able
to physically touch our loved ones. However, it is imperative that visitors follow strict social distancing restrictions and remain safely more than 6 feet from their loved one, at all times.

What can family members and loved ones do to make this process run smoothly?

The number one thing families and loved ones can do is to be patient and ask how you can help. Nursing homes and assisted livings are working to keep entire communities of vulnerable older adults and to navigate continually changing guidance. Your support, understanding, and partnership in this process will help these changes be implemented more smoothly for all involved. Additionally, you can:

Ask the nursing home or assisted living facility what their process will be for conducting indoor visitation.
Follow the process the facility lays out for scheduling visits.
Follow all protocols and procedures as required by the facility.
Share this information with other family members and friends who have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living.

Thank you for your partnership, and we so look forward to a time when we can all be together again.