INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFE VISITATION – INFECTION CONTROL

Our normal visiting hours have been suspended until further notice.  These restrictions will be reviewed on a weekly basis until concerns with the Corona Virus are resolved.

We are also taking preventative measures, completed on a daily basis, with all facility employees, contractors, and consultants whose entry into our facility is required to meet residents’ care needs and to keep residents safe.

We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to best provide care and a safe environment for all our residents.  Standifer Place is happy to assist in providing alternate means of visiting via phone and internet based communication.  Questions/concerns can be addressed by calling our facility at 423-490-1599.

Specifics on Restricting Individuals from Entering our Building 

Standifer Place is taking the following actions to help prevent the entry of COVID-19 into our facility whether or not it has been found in the surrounding community.

1. Allow entry to only individuals who need entry.
2. Restrict activities and visitors with potential for exposure.
3. Actively screen individuals entering the building and restrict entry to those with respiratory symptoms or possible exposure to COVID-19.

#1 Restrict entry to only individuals who need entry, such as:

• Facility employees, contractors and consultants who are needed to keep the operations running and assure the residents’ needs are met.
• Government officials who in their capacity require entry (e.g., CDC or public health staff).
• Immediate families or friends who need to visit for critical or time sensitive reasons such as end of life related visits, complete medical authorizations, etc. These visitors should be instructed to limit their movement within the facility.

#2 Restrict activities and individuals with potential for exposure, including:

• Visitors, when there are any confirmed COVID-19 cases in the surrounding community. This does not apply to workforce needed to keep the operations going and to meet resident needs.
• Other visitors for routine social visits, tours with prospective residents or their families, and outside group activities (e.g., school groups or bands, etc.).
• We have canceled group activities and activities that take residents into the community to public places particularly with large gatherings, such as mall, movies, etc. (note: this does NOT apply to residents who need to leave the building for medical care such as dialysis, medical visits, etc).

#3 Actively screening all individuals entering the building, including employees, contractors, volunteers, visitors, new admissions, government officials, and health care professionals. The screening process includes asking individuals for:

• Respiratory symptoms (fever, sore throat, cough and new shortness of breath);
• International travel within the last 14 days to areas where COVID-19 cases have been confirmed.
• Anyone who has worked in another health care setting with confirmed COVID-19 cases (this may change as COVID-19 spreads in your community)
• Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) stations are setup immediately inside the main entryways with signage reminding people to wash before entering.

Reasons Standifer Place is Restricting Individuals from Entering our Building 

The current COVID-19 outbreak situation means that it is critical that we take every precaution possible.  We must prevent this virus from entering our center.  Protecting our residents’ health and safety is our top priority.

The CDC has done a careful review of the death rate in the elderly, especially those with dementia or chronic diseases. Experts are recommending we take action to limit individuals from entering our building and to ensure sick employees stay home.

Early data shows that

• The mortality rate for people over 80 in the general population is 15% in China.
• The World Health Organization report estimates the mortality rate at 21.9% for those over 80.
• At the nursing home in Washington state, there have been 50 residents who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. As of March 9, 2020, 19 of those have died. This is a high death rate.

There is a risk that people who appear healthy will enter nursing homes and infect residents. Studies of past viral epidemics where recommending prevention was delayed were not effective. These studies show that the sooner we limit interactions with each other and wash your hands frequently virus spreads more slowly.

These facts have led many to recommend severe limitations on visitation.

We hope this explains to you why we are asking people to limit their visits. This may prevent you from physically seeing your family member or friend during this time.  Our residents’ health and safety are our top concern, and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect them.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions at 423-490-1599. Please make sure we have your latest contact information.  Thank you for supporting these efforts.

Sincerely,

Dave Boozer
Administrator
daveboozer@standiferplace.org