ATTENTION: NC SENIOR LIVING ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS ADULT AND FAMILY CARE HOMES RESTRICT ALL VISITATION TO REDUCE RISK OF TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19
March 14, 2020
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their guidance for nursing homes in an effort to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. This guidance is more restrictive than guidance sent out yesterday by the
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
However, in order to better protect residents from contracting COVID-19, we are recommending that all adult care and family care homes following the new CMS guidance
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The new CMS guidance requires the following:
For ALL facilities nationwide:
Facilities should restrict visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life situation. In those cases, visitors will be limited to a specific room only. Facilities are expected to notify potential visitors to defer visitation until further notice (through signage, calls, letters, etc.).
For individuals that enter in compassionate situations (e.g., end-of-life care), facilities should require visitors to perform hand hygiene and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks. Decisions about visitation during an end of life situation should be made on a case by case basis, which should include careful screening of the visitor (including clergy, bereavement counselors, etc.) for fever or respiratory symptoms. Those with symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat) should not be permitted to enter the facility at any time (even in end-of-life situations). Those visitors that are permitted, must wear a facemask while in the building and restrict their visit to the resident’s room or other location designated by the facility. They should also be reminded to frequently perform hand hygiene.
Reducing resident exposure to individuals who are potentially infected with COVID-19 is of paramount importance since our residents are among the highest risk group for infection and mortality from this virus.
If you have questions concerning any aspect of this document, please do not hesitate to contact me at (919) 787-2526 or
jeff@ncseniorliving.org
Jeff Horton, Executive Director
