New Guidance For Indoor Visitation
Dear Family Members – 3/16/2021
As I’m sure all of you are aware, the CDC came out with updated guidance last Wednesday, 3/10/2021 which literally stated, “ facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for circumstances when visitation should be limited due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission …” However, what you may not see are the steps that each facility needs to take to assure that these visits are safe for all.
Included in the guidance are recommendations for managing the number of visitors in the building at any one time, as well as guidance for disinfecting all surfaces that may have been touched during a visit. We took some time to work out the logistics of these visits in order to assure the greatest continued safety of our residents, our staff, and the visitors themselves. We recognize the physical and emotional toll that physical separation from family and other loved ones has taken on our residents.
Beginning Monday, March 22nd, Park River Estates will be open for visits. Indoor visits are important, but come with some level of risk and we have put rules in place to minimize these risk to the best of our ability.
Please note that the guidance also points out, “While taking a person-centered approach, outdoor visitation is preferred even when the resident and visitor are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, because outdoor visits generally pose a lower risk of spreading the disease. Visits should be held outdoors whenever feasible.” With this guidance in mind, we will open the outdoor space as soon as the weather allows for comfortable outdoor visits. The outdoor space will be an area where more than one person can join in the visit.
I would encourage you to read COVID-19 Guidance: Long-term Care Indoor Visitation for Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living-type Settings provided by the MN. Dept. of Health. Hard copies of this document are available at the facility entrance/screening area of PRECC. The link to the document is here: COVID-19 Guidance: Long-term Care Indoor Visitation for Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living-type Settings (state.mn.us)
In addition to more open visitation guidance, there is also updated guidance for non-medically necessary outings. Copies of this guidance will also be available upon screening and the link for this guidance is: Long-term Care Guidance for Non-medically Necessary Outings (state.mn.us)
Please contact me with any questions! WELCOME BACK!
Kim Pederson – 763-210-7003 kpederson@parkriverestates.com
