Florida Visitation Policy
The Visitation Policy is designed to promote resident, visitor, and employee safety and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The community does not restrict visitation. There is no limit on the number of visitors allowed per visit. As per Florida Statute 408.823, the Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that staff adhere to the policies and procedures of the visitation policy. Also, per Florida Statute 408.823, the Executive Director may suspend in-person visitation of a specific visitor if the visitor violates the provider’s policies and procedures.
Visitors are not required to submit proof of any vaccination or immunization.
Consensual physical contact is allowed between a resident and a visitor.
General Guidelines
If the individual is a first-time visitor, staff will offer them Infection Control Training and Education.
Screening Process/Personal Protective Equipment, and Infection Control Protocols.
- Screenings are no longer required for entrance to the community.
- Ensure hand sanitizer is available for staff, visitors, and residents throughout the community.
- Hand hygiene should be performed by the resident and the visitors before and after contact.
- Face mask use for residents and visitors is optional, regardless of vaccination or immunization status, unless the resident or visitor is ill or symptomatic.
- All visitors must immediately inform the community if they develop symptoms or test positive for any infectious disease or virus within 7 days of their visit to the community.
Community Access Procedure
- Upon arrival check in at the entry way.
- Sign in and out on the Visitor Log.
- If screenings become necessary for entrance to the community, visitors will be instructed and given the Visitation/Infection control guidelines.
Residents with COVID-19 and/or Exposed to COVID-19
All residents, regardless of their COVID‐19 status are allowed to have personal visitors.
COVID-19 positive residents may still have visitors, but their visitors will be encouraged to wear PPE. Visits can occur where adequate space is available as necessary to ensure physical distancing between other residents and visitors when necessary.
Essential Caregivers
A resident or their responsible party may designate anyone they choose as an Essential Caregiver. There are no limits on the number of identified Essential Caregivers per resident.
Special Circumstances
In the event a State Agency might require restriction, the Essential Caregiver will be allowed in all the following circumstances, unless the resident objects:
- End-of-life situations.
- A resident who was living with family before moving into the community is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support.
- The resident is making one or more major medical decisions.
- A resident is experiencing emotional distress.
- A resident is grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.
- A resident needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.
- A resident who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.
Visitor Education
Standard Precautions
- Every visit shall require the visitor to sign in and out in the visitor log.
- Regular hand washing will be adhered to before, during and after the visit.
- All visitors shall be required to support Universal Source Control.
Hand-washing for Visitors
- Hand-washing facilities will always be available for use by visitors.
- Visitors will clean their hands before and after visit, and as needed during the visit.
- Alcohol-based gels will be available to all visitors. Hand washing and cleansing with an alcohol-based sanitizer are acceptable methods for hand hygiene. Hand washing with soap and warm water should be performed to remove dirt, blood, and body fluids.
Proper Hand-washing Technique:
- Remove all jewelry, including rings.
- Run the faucet so that the water is lukewarm and wet the hands.
- Use a small amount of liquid soap to cover the hands and wrists. Soap the forearms, if necessary, to cleanse beyond the area of contamination.
- Use friction. Rub one hand upon the other, and interlace the fingers of both hands, using a back-and- forth motion for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands and wrists under running water. Always hold the hands so that they are lower than the elbows to allow water to flow from the fingertips.
- Dry your hands with a clean paper towel.
- Use a paper towel to turn off the water faucet.
Outbreak Event
- In the event of a viral outbreak the visitor will be subject to the appropriate PPE as required to mitigate and prevent spread of the virus.
- Community staff will instruct on the proper PPE for the individual situation.
- Community staff will instruct on proper donning and doffing of the PPE.
For more information about visiting Florida communities generally, please visit ahca.myflorida.com/visitation/.
If you believe that you or your loved one’s rights are being violated, please contact AHCA by calling the toll-free Complaint & Information Call Center at 1 (888) 419-3456, or by completing an online complaint form at: https://ahca.myflorida.com/.
