Covid-19 FAQs

Yes, families are encouraged to drop off items in the front foyer area for later retrieval by staff. Families should call the staff and let them know they are dropping something off. It is recommended that items be dropped off in a paper bag with the resident’s name on it. Staff will later retrieve the items to disinfect prior to bringing them to the resident. Anything the resident may enjoy doing in their apartment such as books, puzzles, crafts, personal devices and other sources of meaningful engagement, are highly recommended.

The determination of essential health care providers is determined on a case-by-case basis. The goal of restricting all visitors in long-term care settings is to limit exposure given the high mortality rate for seniors and those with complicating conditions. A risk-benefit analysis should consider whether the health care service is necessary, and/or related to compassionate care at end of life. Typically, hospice, home health, and labs may be considered essential depending on whether the services are considered essential for that particular resident.

All visitors, except Emergency Medical Services (EMS), shall be screened for symptoms including temperature, upon entry. Visitors will be asked to wash their hands and are required to wear a face mask prior to entry. Additional PPE may be required upon request based on screening responses. While on site, visitors will be required to physically distance, practice respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, and demonstrate frequent hand hygiene. Visitors are restricted to the resident room or may be assigned to another location identified by staff. Any visitor demonstrating symptoms, or suspected of posing a risk to residents or staff, shall not be permitted to enter the community, even in compassionate care situations. In addition, in Washington, residents are permitted 1 essential visitor per day. In Oregon, the resident is permitted no more than 2 essential visitors at any one time. As the situation with COVID-19 is rapidly changing, this direction may change as well.

The community may consider moving in a new resident with extreme care and caution. Certain requirements will need to be met in addition to our typical screening and evaluation process, including presenting a negative Covid-19 test, dated not more than 7 days’ prior, obtaining a physician attestation that the resident is appropriate for moving into an assisted living community, providing 7 days of symptom screening at home prior to move-in, and symptom and risk screening immediately before move-in.

Modified move-in procedures may be offered from virtual tours to virtual move-in consultations. Restrictions will remain in place in terms of visitor restrictions; however, staff will work together to ease the transition as much as possible. Personal belongings and furniture being brought in shall be limited and items will need to be disinfected prior to locating in the resident’s room. New residents may be subject to a 7 to 14-day quarantine after move-in, as individuals may be asymptomatic for a time before testing positive.

At this time, the CDC recommends that long-term care settings cancel community dining and group activities and outings. Residents who require feeding assistance, residents at risk for choking, or residents who require monitoring, may be served in the dining room while observing the restrictions of 6 foot of physical distance. As restrictions begin to loosen, residents may be permitted in small groups to dine in the dining room while observing 6 foot of physical distance upon entering, exiting, and while dining. Residents are receiving their hot meals via tray service 3x a day, snack and hydration carts at least 2x a day, and grab-and-go options are also routinely available.

The guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Long-Term Care facilities calls for cancellation of all communal dining and group activities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html For this reason, residents are not to congregate in places like the art and craft spaces, the library, lounge, or dining room. Ask the Life Enrichment Coordinator for a calendar of virtual programs and modified activities that may be available.
Can a resident go outside for a walk?

Yes, residents are permitted to sit and enjoy the courtyard and other walking paths on campus as long as he/she maintains physical distance of 6 feet from others at all times. Family and friends however are not permitted at this time to visit with residents outside on our grounds.

While we cannot stop a resident from leaving the community, as he/she always has the right to leave, we will strongly urge the resident not to leave due to the possible risks of exposing oneself, and upon their return, exposing other residents and staff to the virus. Residents who insist on leaving the community shall be subject to a 14-day quarantine in their apartment upon their return.

What kinds of precautions apply if a resident is gone for an overnight stay or longer?

Out of an abundance of caution, residents will be asked to quarantine in their apartment for 14 days following an overnight or longer absence, regardless of whether he/she is showing any symptoms. Residents will receive in-room tray service and in-room one-on-one socialization, in addition to their regular care and housekeeping services. Alternatively, residents who receive a negative Covid-19 test may expedite the quarantine requirements.

Testing at this time is focused on people with Covid-like symptoms such as those with fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Residents in long-term care settings and staff working in these settings are generally prioritized for testing. Testing is provided at the physician’s discretion and at this time a physician order is required for testing. Nurses in our communities, and in some cases trained and delegated staff, may perform Covid-19 specimen collection for testing in-house. We will utilize our local Public Health Authorities/ Department of Health to secure testing; however, if access is prohibitive, we may use our in-house capacity to perform a Covid-19 test.

Yes, as soon as a symptomatic staff member or resident is referred to take a Covid-19 test, you will be notified. We will also notify you as soon as the test results come back. 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. In the case of asymptomatic testing, strictly as a precautionary measure (not due to Covid-like symptoms), we will not issue notification.

Please note that turnaround time on test results vary greatly from 5-7 hours and in some cases, 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 precautionary measures we should be taking. 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.

Further, CCL has its own criteria for lifting restrictions which must be met separate from any state and local plans which may be issued. 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. (Link to our website)