DIVINE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
In Person Visitation Policy
Policy Statement:
The administration and staff of Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc understand the importance of the residents in our assisted living facility (ALF) having the ability to spend time with loved ones, family and friends. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) indoor general visitation ALF residents were restricted from receiving in-person visitors. This was done in an effort to protect the health and safety of residents and of the staff who are essential to the provision of the care and assistance required by our residents.
This Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc visitation policy reflects the provisions of the April 6, 2022, State of
Florida Senate Bill 988, “No Patient Left Alone Act.” In accordance with that act, Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc will not restrict regular visitation without a reasonable clinical or safety cause consistent with F.A.C. Rule 59A-36.007 (10) infection Control Procedures and Florida Statutes Chapter 429.28 (d) Resident Bill of Rights. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc policies will continue to be revised to reflect updates in the regulatory guidance for Assisted Living facilities in Florida.
Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administrative staff will provide their visitation policies and procedures to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) when applying for licensure renewal, or change of ownership. In addition, Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc will make the visitation policies and procedures accessible from the homepage of their website.
Procedures:
Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc is an ALF licensed under part I of chapter 429 and designed to provide personal care services in the least restrictive and most home-like environment possible while providing services to its residents in accordance with the laws and rules of the State of Florida with oversight by the State of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administration and staff adhere to the Florida Statutes Chapter 429 Part I governing Assisted Living Facilities. Section 429.28 of the law details the Resident Bill of Rights that Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc abides by. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc staff honor the visitation rights of their residents and ensures that residents are assured under item (1) (d) of the law:
“Unrestricted private communication, including receiving and sending unopened correspondence, access to a telephone, and visiting with any person of his or her choice, at any time between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at a minimum. Upon request, the facility shall make provisions to extend visiting hours for caregivers and out-of-town guests, and in other similar situations.”
3. Residents are advised in the Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc House-Rules that visitors are made welcome at any reasonable hour with typical visitation hours being from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm. As a security measure for residents, the entrance and exit doors are locked at 9:00 pm; however visitation at Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc is allowed outside of these hours for visitors who request admittance in advance.
In-person Visitation (continued)
As per 408.823(1-2) FS
4. If a resident and their visitor wish to continue the visit beyond 9:00 pm when in a shared room, the visit may be continued outside the room in a suitable location in the facility to allow for the privacy of the roommate.
5. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc does not prohibit consensual physical contact between a facility resident and their visitor(s).
6. The Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc Administrator is responsible for ensuring that all staff adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in this document.
Designation of and In-person Visitation by an Essential Caregiver:
In accordance with the April 6, 2022, State of Florida, SB 988, “No Resident Left Alone Act,” Section 2.
Section 408.823, (2) (b) Florida Statutes, a Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc resident may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc must allow in-person visitation by the essential caregiver for at least 2 hours daily in addition to any other visitation authorized by the Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc In-Person Visitation Policy.
The “No Resident Left Alone Act” does not require an essential caregiver to provide necessary care to a resident and the staff at Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc will not require an essential caregiver to provide such care.
Residents have the right to decline to designate an essential caregiver; however, when designated, the identity of the essential caregiver will be documented in the resident’s record.
Special Circumstances Requiring In-Person Visitation
In accordance with the April 6, 2022, State of Florida, SB 988, “No Resident Left Alone Act,” Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc must and will allow in-person visitation in all of the following circumstances unless the resident objects:
End-of-Life situations;
With a resident who is struggling with a change in environment and the lack of in-person family support when having previously lived with family before admission to Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc;
With a resident who is experiencing emotional distress or is grieving the loss of a friend or family member who has recently died;
With a resident who is in the process of making one or more major medical decisions;
With a resident who needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink when that assistance was previously provided by a family member or caregiver; and/or
With a resident who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.
In-person Visitation (continued)
As per 408.823(1-2) FS
Infection Control Protocols Including Screening, Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Education for Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc Visitors:
Resident care including visitation at Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc will be conducted in accordance with the Florida
Administrative Code Chapter 59A-36.007 (10) Infection Control procedures, whereby Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc must provide services in a manner that reduces the risk of transmission of infectious diseases. Under this rule, Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc must use Standard precautions when there is an anticipated exposure to transmissible infectious agents in blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes during the provision of personal services. Standard precautions include: hand hygiene, and dependent upon the exposure, use of gloves, gown, mask, eye protection, or a face shield.
Due to the recent Public Health Emergency caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administration has incorporated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their infection control protocols for the protection of their vulnerable residents, staff and visitors. All staff, visitors and other persons entering Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc will be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 using the automated temperature check in use at Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc.
The Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administrative staff has the responsibility to deny entry to the facility of any persons failing to meet the screening guidelines including those with a positive viral test, with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or who meet the criteria for quarantine for COVID-19.
Visitors will not be required to submit proof of any vaccination or immunization to Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc staff.
Visitor education will be provided on:
Screening guidelines
COVID-19 signs and symptoms;
Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc infection control precautions;
Requirements for the use of face coverings;
Proper hand hygiene:
Permissible entrance and exit doors to use when arriving and departing the facility.
4. All visitors will follow the proper method for completing hand hygiene during their visit with the proper use of alcohol-based hand rub being the preferred method.
5. All visitors must wear a face covering or mask covering their mouth and nose at all times when entering Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc, while inside the facility’s common areas and when around Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc staff and other residents.
6. All visitors will be encouraged to adhere to the CDC Guidance for physical distancing of at least 6 feet from staff and other residents during their visit.
7. Instructional signage with source control information for visitors and staff will be placed in the facility.
In-person Visitation (continued)
As per 408.823(1-2) FS
8. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administration may require a visitor to agree in writing to follow the policies and procedures established for their facility.
9. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administration may suspend in-person visitation of a specific visitor if the visitor violates the policies and procedures on which they have been educated.
10. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc staff will appropriately use and wear PPE and adhere to all safety-related policies and procedures set-forth by the facility for staff and visitors.
11. Staff will clean and disinfect high-frequency touched surfaces often and will clean and disinfect the common visitation areas.
12. Divine Assisted Living Facility Inc administration may choose to periodically test their staff for COVID-19 based on Osceola County’s community transmission rate published by the CDC.
