Covid-19 FAQs

We are pleased to report that we held three vaccination clinics on-site in the winter of 2021. Our residents and staff have all received education, support, and access to the Covid-19 vaccine free of charge. We are continuing to make the Covid-19 vaccine available on-site free of charge to our new residents, staff and family members who are eligible through our partnership with our long-term care pharmacy.

Concepts In Community Living, Inc., the management agent responsible for the operations of the community, is issuing policy and procedure that is informed by many sources. We must comply with the requirements set forth by our state licensing agencies, by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), by our state and local county public health departments, and by our state Governors. We also follow guidance provided by our state industry associations and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html

Washington Department of Health Frequently Asked Questions
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020COVID19/FrequentlyAskedQuestions

Washington Visitor Restrictions for Assisted Living Communities
https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/ALTSA/covid-19/Restrictions%20Assisted%20Living%20Facilities.pdf

Oregon Health Authority Covid-19 Page
https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19

We continue to practice Covid-19 infection control protocol which includes maintaining 6 ft of physical distance, performing symptom screening on all staff, visitors and residents daily, hand hygiene, wearing PPE including face masks, and disinfecting all high touch surfaces. We also perform staff testing for Covid-19 for unvaccinated staff routinely, perform resident and staff testing upon any exposure incident, and upon onset of symptoms. We also continue to educate and support free access to the Covid-19 vaccine onsite, as vaccination is our best method to fight this virus and protect our residents and staff.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant for, and immediately report, fever or symptoms consistent with Covid-19 (e.g., sore throat, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches). Residents are encouraged to vaccinate against Covid-19. If residents leave their apartment, or are around others, they are encouraged to wear a cloth face mask, if tolerated, regardless of symptoms and vaccination status.

If a resident exhibits signs and symptoms consistent with Covid-19, the resident’s physician will be contacted for a virtual or in-person evaluation. Based on the evaluation, the resident may be transferred to an urgent care setting for further monitoring and testing. If a resident requires a higher level of care, or the facility cannot fully implement all recommended infection control precautions, the resident may be temporarily relocated to another facility that is better able to manage the care and precaution needs required of the resident. The state has contracted with several providers for the care of Covid-19 positive residents. State licensing and public health authorities shall be involved in finding appropriate care setting in this situation.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

As Visitor restrictions have changed throughout the period of this pandemic based on factors such as county positivity rates and facility status, its best to verify the very latest with the community Director. Visitation virtually, on the phone, thru window visits or outdoor visits are generally always permitted. Limited indoor visitation may also be permitted based on county positivity, facility vaccination rates, and vaccination status of the resident and visitor, and any current outbreak activity. Compassionate care visits are always permitted. Contact the Director to see who qualifies for a compassionate care visit.

Oregon:
Essential individual includes the following; however, a discussion must be had with serious consideration given to delay or postponement of any non-essential services. Consideration must be given to the essential nature of the visit and alternatives for visiting, in addition to the need to maintain strict adherence to visitor protocol and screening.

• Facility staff and prospective staff seeking employment
• Outside medical personnel such as doctors, hospice staff, therapist, mental health therapists, or other facility staff assessing a resident prior to admission
• Emergency responders including EMS, Fire, and Police
• Vendors, but only when access to facility is required
• Adult protective services staff engaged in an active adult abuse investigation
• Licensing/Survey staff
• Long term care ombudsman and deputies (not volunteers)
• Legal guardians; and friends and family members visiting during end -of-life stages.

Washington:
No one is permitted to enter the community to visit a resident. As per the Governor’s proclamation, “This prohibition does not apply to end-of-life situations or to visits by attorneys, administrative law judges, advocates, or similar persons who represent a resident. Does not apply to vendors or volunteers who supply or work in a facility.”

YES! AT this time, while maintaining Covid-19 precautions, communal dining and group activities may resume. Residents are encouraged to wear a face mask while not eating if they are unvaccinated or are near unvaccinated individuals. Residents are also encouraged to maintain their 6 foot distance in the dining room and while engaged in group activities.

In addition to contracting with an outside testing agency to provide PCR Covid-19 testing, the community also has Rapid Antigen Tests available on-site for use with our residents and staff.

Oregon
Oregon Health Authority has published a COVID-19 test site locator to help Oregonians across the state find testing sites in their community. The interactive map is available in both English and Spanish and can be toggled into multiple other languages:
healthoregon.org/covid19testing or healthoregon.org/pruebasdecovid19 (Spanish)

Washington

To make an appointment for Covid testing, contact your medical provider. Or, check with your local health department or district.

Testing Sites by Health Jurisdiction:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/TestingSiteOnlineResources-LHJ.pdf

Yes, you will be notified if a Covid-19 positive resident, staff or visitor has been in our community. If you have concerns about receiving our notifications, please contact the Director at your earliest convenience to verify the contact information we have on file.

Turnaround time on test results vary greatly from 24-48 hours to 5-7 days. During this time, we will be following the guidance of the local Public Health Authorities and local Health Department for contact tracing and additional precautionary measures. If the situation involves a staff member, they will be sent home until test results come back negative, or until either the CDC time-based, test-based, or symptom-based method for determining return-to-work, has been met. If the situation involves a resident, they will remain in isolation or be moved to an appropriate acute care setting better able to safely accommodate their needs, until two negative Covid-19 test results 24-hours apart can be obtained.

Yes, in the state of Oregon, as soon as a symptomatic staff or resident is referred to take a Covid-19 test, the state issues an Executive Order which restricts new admissions, restricts re-admissions, requires additional staff training, restricts visitors, and cancels communal dining and group activities. The state will be heavily involved should any resident or staff member test positive for Covid-19. In Washington, we provide notification to the state, who in turn provides guidance and oversight of the preventative efforts, along with the local Public Health Authority/ Department of Health.

As states begin to roll out their phased approaches to reopening, we are aware that our long-term care communities will lag far behind the opening plans of all other sectors. As you know, our elderly residents are at the highest risk for complications and mortality from Coronavirus, and as such, we will be under heightened precautions and restrictions for quite some time to come.

We respect and acknowledge how hard the continued restrictions will be, but we ask that all directives, as put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and state and local government, continue to be adhered to fully.

At any time, you are encouraged to contact the Director of your community by calling the main phone number or by sending an email. If you are not satisfied with the support you receive or you would like to share your concern as well with the management company, please contact Concepts In Community Living, Inc. at (503) 255-4647 or info@ccliving.com.