COVID-19 Limited Visitation Information

Portage Manor visitation will continue, if certain facility and community conditions exist. This guidance pertains to all long-term care facilities licensed by ISDH- nursing homes and residential care facilities, or licensed assisted living. 

Visitation will be offered indoors & outside 8a-8pm daily, weather permitting 

All visitors will have to check in at the greeting area (at the front door), temp taken, questionnaire completed, and all guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health followed. 

Outdoor visitation at Portage Manor: 

-Outdoor visits are preferred since they generally pose a lower risk of transmission due to increased space and air flow.  

-Outdoor visits should continue except during inclement weather or resident health status (medical condition or COVID-19 status).  

-Outdoor visits are not permitted for residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection or in quarantine.  

-Facility COVID-19 outbreak status is not considered a reason to suspend outdoor visitation. 

-Whenever possible, visitation is allowed up to one or two hours and two visitors per resident.  

Indoor visitation at Portage Manor: 

     -Indoor visitation is available daily 8a-8p and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except     for a few circumstances when visitation should be limited due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission. 

These scenarios include limiting indoor visitation for: 1) Unvaccinated residents, 2) if the facilities     COVID-19 county positivity rate is >10% and <70% of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated. 3)     Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions; or 4) Residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.  

-There are two visiting areas at this time, and will be booked on a 1st come 1st serve basis.  We have     eliminated the need to request an appointment for visitation due to the decrease in numbers of     request.  

Portage Manor Facility Criteria:  

There must be no new COVID cases that originated within the facility, including those involving residents or staff, within the last 14 days. New COVID admissions to a facility would not constitute a facility-onset COVID case.  

Adequate staff must be present to allow for personnel to help with the indoor & outdoor monitoring of visitation, and wiping down visitation areas after each family, partner or friendship visit.  

Facilities may establish additional guidelines as needed to ensure the safety of visitations and their facility’s operations. 

Portage Manor Facility Protocol: 

Resident visitors must be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID.  

Areas where visitors and residents sit must be wiped down between visitations using an approved antiviral disinfectant per St. Joseph County Health Department 

There must be adequate PPE to permit residents, if they are able to comply, to wear a face mask during visitation.  

Visitors must appropriately wear a face covering at all times.  

Outdoor & indoor visitation spaces must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between visitors and loved ones.  

Facilities must provide alcohol-based hand rub to families visiting residents and demonstrate how to use it appropriately if necessary.  

Facilities may establish additional guidelines as needed to ensure the safety of visitations and their facility’s operations. 

Resident Criteria: Resident outdoor visitation should be prioritized for the following: 

Residents must have the ability to safely transition from their room to an outdoor visitation location.  

Residents who are able to should wear a face mask during visitation.  

Must stay in the designated facility locations. 

Prioritization for visitation should be for residents expressing feelings of loneliness. Loneliness can have deleterious consequences, including risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressive behaviors, and anxiety.  

Visitor Criteria: Visitation is restricted to only those visitors who meet the following criteria: 

Must wear a face covering or mask during visits. 

Must use alcohol-based hand rub before and after visitation.  

Must stay in designated facility locations. 

Visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a face mask during  visitation.  

Must sign in, have temp taken, and provide contact information. 

Must not have signs or symptoms of COVID-19; visitors must also attest to their COVID status ( testing results) and if they have had COVID-19, they must  no longer meet CDC criteria for transmission-based precautions. 

Visitors may provide food and beverage to the resident consistent with dietary considerations. 

Physical Touch: If the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing hand-hygiene before and after. Regardless, visitors should physically distance from other residents and staff in the facility. 

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh-revised.pdf 

For more information: 

 IN_COVID-19 IP Toolkit ISDH_6.14.21.pdf