Visitation Policy

Effective May 06, 2022

Purpose

In-Person Visitation bill has been signed into law, creating Chapter 408.823, which is subject “In-person visitation.” A resident may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver.

Policy

The following are the procedures to be followed to identify Essential Caregivers for residents and the expectations. These procedures will be administered equally to all residents that request to have an essential caregiver, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and transgender status), age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Essential caregiver visitors provide emotional support to help a resident deal with a difficult transition or loss, upsetting event, making major medical decisions, needs cueing to eat and drink, stops speaking, or end-of-life. Essential caregiver visitors may be allowed entry into facilities on a limited basis for these specific purposes. The provider must allow at a minimum in-person visitation for at least 2-hours daily under these circumstances.

At Pondella, the 2-hour visitation will be between 10:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. Pondella may make exceptions to the 2-hour visitation on a case-by-case basis for end-of-life residents. These exceptions will be discussed and agreed upon in writing by the facility’s designee and the resident’s responsible party.

Procedures:

I. For designation and utilization of essential caregiver visitors.

1. Pondella Residential Care will provide the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) with a copy of the facility’s essential caregiver visitor’s policy and procedure, with the initial licensure application, renewal application and/or change of ownership application.

2. Pondella Residential Care essential caregiver visitor’s policy and procedure is available on Pondella’s homepage.

3.Pondella Residential Care will designate Ilomise Alexandre as key staff to support infection prevention and control training.

4. Pondella Residential Care will set a limit on the total number of visitors allowed in the facility at any given time based on the ability of staff to safely screen and monitor and the space to accommodate the essential caregiver visitors.

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