Visitation Guidelines Updated

July 13, 2021

Dear Residents, Family & Friends,

Lutheran Home of Central New York, Lutheran Cottage, and Presbyterian Residential Community Adult Care Facility/Assisted Living Program have received new guidance from New York State Department of Health regarding acceptable visitation practices at our facility.    

The days of long separations from family and loved ones is hopefully behind us for good and better days are ahead. The re-opening of visitation seems to be a consequence of more people being vaccinated and also due to the increased compliance with safety mandates. Regardless, we are very happy to have residents and families together again. 

One thing is certain, we must continue to follow infection prevention protocols during all visits. Part of this protocol requires us to screen all visitors at the entrance of our Adult Homes.

Taking Your Loved One Off Campus           

Our residents may leave the Adult Home with family or friends and return without being quarantined as long as they leave the facility for less than 24 hours (e.g., for medical appointments, community outings with family or friends) and do not have close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Residents who leave the facility for 24 hours or longer, will need to quarantine for 5 days unless the resident has had the SARS-CoV-2 infection within the past 3 months and/or is fully vaccinated.

While out of the building, residents are expected to wear a mask and minimize exposure to other people. Residents leaving the facility will be reminded to follow all recommended infection control practices including source control, physical distancing, and hand hygiene and to encourage those around them to do the same.

We ask that you notify us in advance of your plan to pick your loved one so we can have them ready to go out for the day. We also ask that we are made aware upon return if the resident has been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 while out of the facility.

Visitations

All visitation will be limited to Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm.  Weekend and evening visits will be permitted based on the availability of staff in each adult home. All visitations must be scheduled to ensure the effective implementation of applicable infection control measures.  All visitors wishing to visit must schedule with the Administrative Secretary at (315) 235-7142 at the Lutheran Home of CNY, Administrator at (315) 982-2593 at the Lutheran Cottage, and Director of Activities (315) 794-0138 at the Presbyterian Residential Community.

Up to four (4) visitors will be allowed to visit a resident at one time, including children under the age of 12 years old.

We have visitations available in the resident’s room, in a designated area indoors, and outdoors, weather permitting. Visitors cannot walk around inside the building with the resident they are visiting or visit with other residents.

All visitors must continue to be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to a visitation. Screening will include both temperature checks and questions to assess potential exposure to COVID-19.  If any visitor(s) exhibits any symptoms or do not pass the screening questions, visitation will be denied.

If both the resident and their visitor(s) are fully vaccinated, and the resident and visitor(s) are alone in the room or designated visitation room, the resident and visitor(s) may choose to have close contact (including touch) without a mask or face covering. Otherwise, visitors must maintain social distancing of 6 feet and wear a face mask at all times.

Skype, Facetime and window visits are also available to families.

Please be mindful that if we have a positive case identified among residents and/or staff, we then must begin outbreak testing and suspend all indoor visitation for 14 days.

As a reminder, fully vaccinated means the resident and visitor is two weeks or more following their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks or more following one dose of a single-dose vaccine per the CDC recommendation for vaccinated persons.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,

Michelle Cole, RN

Dir. of Adult Homes & Assisted Living Residences