Purpose:

The purpose of this Visitation Policy is to provide clear guidelines for residents, their families, visitors, Essential Caregivers, and staff for compliance with state regulations and federal guidelines, while promoting the health, safety, and well-being of all parties.

Policy:

This policy will be administered equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and transgender status), age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

1. Right to Designate Visitors
   1. Residents have the right to designate a specific person or group of persons as their visitors. If a resident is unable to make this designation, their responsible person or legal representative may make the designation on the resident's behalf. Residents may change their visitors at any time.
   2. All new residents will be asked if they would like to identify an Essential Caregiver upon move-in. The Residential Essential Caregiver Designation Form will be maintained in the resident’s file, where applicable. The resident or their responsible part shall notify the Executive Director or their designee as soon as practical of any changes to their Residential Essential Caregiver Designation Form.
   3. In accordance with Florida Statute 408.823, this policy allows in-person visitation by Essential Caregivers in the following circumstances, unless the resident objects:
2. Visitation Hours and Number of Visitors
   1. As required by Florida Statute 429.28 (1)(d) Resident Bill of Rights, the community will permit visitors at a minimum between the hours of 9AM to 9PM. The duration of visits will be unrestricted within the normal visiting hours. Any visits that would extend outside the normal visiting hours require advance approval by the executive director.
   2. At times there may be circumstances which restrict Resident visitation, such as pandemic flu or presence of infectious diseases which may require modification. This requirement is not pertinent to essential caregivers. In such cases, the Community shall comply with the requirements of the CDC, the Florida Department of Health, and Florida Emergency Management. Upon request, the Community will make provisions to extend visiting hours for Essential Caregivers and out-of-town guests.
   3. Each resident will be permitted to have one appointed Essential Caregiver at any given time. Exceptions must be approved by the Executive Director or their designee.
   4. The community Executive Director or designee may set limits on the total number of visitors allowed in the Community at any given time based on the ability of the staff to safely screen and monitor and the space to accommodate the Essential Caregiver visitors.
3. Visitor Conduct
   1. Visitors are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately during their time in the Community. Behavior that threatens the health, safety, or comfort of residents, staff, or other visitors is not permitted. This includes but is not limited to:
      1. Verbal or physical abuse
      2. Disruptive or threatening behavior
      3. Failure to comply with infection control or safety protocols
   2. If any visitor engages in inappropriate behavior, the facility reserves the right to ask the visitor to leave and may suspend their visitation privileges.
   3. In the event an Essential Caregiver visitor’s status is revoked due to the individual not following the facility’s policies and procedures, the resident may select a different Essential Caregiver visitor who will be granted visitation rights.
4. Availability of the Visitation Policy
   1. The community Executive Director or designee will provide the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) a copy of this policy with the initial licensure application, renewal application, and/or change of ownership application.
   2. The policy shall be made available on the community’s website.
   3. This policy is subject to change based on local, state, or federal regulations, and changes in public health conditions. The Community will notify residents, families, staff, and visitors of any policy changes in a timely manner.
5. Infection Control
   1. This policy does not prohibit Essential Caregiver’s visits if the specific resident to be visited is quarantined, tested positive, or showing symptoms of a communicable disease. Visits in these circumstances will require parties to adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with the requirements of the Community’s Infection Control policies, the CDC, and the Florida Department of Health.
   2. Visitors cannot be compelled to provide proof of vaccination or immunization status.
   3. Essential Caregiver visitors will complete training on infection prevention and control including the use of PPE and hand sanitation prior to visiting the resident.
   4. The Community Executive Director or designee will designate the Community’s Wellness Director/Assistant Wellness Director as key team members to support Infection Control training.
   5. The Community’s Concierge will screen each visitor per the Community’s Infection Control policy and document the name of the individual, the date and time of the entry, and the screening mechanism used, along with the name of the staff member that conducted the screening. In the event the visitor fails the screening, they cannot be allowed entry. This requirement is not pertinent to essential caregivers.
   6. Essential Caregiver visitors must immediately inform the Community if they develop symptoms consistent with a communicable disease within 24 hours of their last visit at the Community.
6. Additional Visitation Policies
   1. The Community will identify locations for visits to occur on the premises. Staff will provide additional coordination for residents that reside in a shared apartment to promote privacy.
   2. The Community will provide outdoor visitation spaces that are protected from the weather elements, such as porches, courtyards, patios, or other covered areas that are protected from heat, and sun with cooling devices, if needed.
   3. The Community will maintain a visitors log for signing in and out. Visitors must check in/out at the front desk.
   4. This policy does not prohibit consensual physical contact between a resident and a visitor.
7. Adherence
   1. The resident or their responsible person will read and sign the Visitation policy and procedures. The acknowledgement of the signatures represents that the Essential Caregiver visitors will abide by the policies and procedures set forth in this document.
   2. The Executive Director or their designee is responsible for the staff’s adherence to this policy.

1. End-of-life situations.
2. 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.

1. The resident, client, or patient is making one or more major medical decisions.
2. A resident, client, or patient is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.

1. A resident, client, or patient needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.
2. A resident, client, or patient who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.

Procedure:

I. When an Essential Caregiver visitor is scheduled to visit a resident, the Community will:

1.1. Make appropriate accommodations in a private setting for the visit to occur.

1.3. Ensure that the required consents, training, and policy acknowledgements are in place.

1.4. Ensure that the visitor has appropriate PPE, if applicable.

1.5. Will require the visitor to sign in and out.

1.6. Monitor the visitor’s adherence to the Community’s policies and procedures.

Review and Frequency:

Annual and As Needed