ATLAS SENIOR LIVING CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
POLICY AND PROCEDURE UPDATED 06/08/2023
Atlas Senior Living strives daily to protect residents from COVID 19 exposure. Individual community guidelines have been fluid throughout the pandemic, based on city, state and federal recommendations. The Centers for Disease Control has established updated COVID 19 protocols. Data firmly supports the efficacy of the vaccine, with few becoming severely ill after being fully vaccinated. Based on this information, Atlas Senior Living communities will focus on protecting residents who have not been vaccinated either due to underlying medical conditions or personal decisions to withhold vaccination.
- ALL ASSOCIATES, RESIDENTS, AND GUESTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS THAT FULLY COVER NOSE AND MOUTH AS DESIRED BASED ON RISK OR VACCINATION STATUS, BY PERSONAL CHOICE WHILE IN AN ATLAS SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY. THIS IS NO LONGER MANDATORY.
- VACCINATIONS REMAIN THE BEST WAY TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND PROTECT OUR FRAGILE POPULATION. VACCINATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENCOURAGED AND OFFERED TO ALL STAFF AND RESIDENTS.
- ALL ASSOCIATES AND GUESTS MUST SIGN IN WHEN ENTERING OUR COMMUNITY AND MASKS ARE VOLUNTARY BASED ON PERSONAL PREFERENCE.
- ALL RESIDENTS WHO PREFER NOT TO WEAR PROTECTIVE FACIAL COVERINGS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN GROUP ACTIITIES OR CLOSE CONTACT AKNOWLEDGE THE INHERENT RISKS OF EXPOSURE.
- ANY VISITOR WITH COLD OR FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, FEVER, ACHES OR GENERALLY FEELING UNWELL WILL BE ASKED TO POSTPONE VISIT UNTIL 72 HOURS OF BEING SYMPTOM FREE.
- ATLAS SENIOR LIVING POLICY AND MASK ENFORCEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON POSITIVES IN COMMUNITY, COUNTY POSITIVITY RATES AND EVER CHANGING FEDERAL, CDC, AND STATE GUIDANCE.
Policy:
To ensure associate and resident safety and well-being during potential outbreaks.
To ensure associates are informed regarding COVID 19, infection control and established protocols.
Procedure:
- Ensure daily use of proper infection control protocols
- Discuss residents with cold/flu-like symptoms daily
- Maintain timely, pertinent communication with residents, family members and Associates regarding community response to outbreaks, precautions to prevent exposure and exposure protection.
- Responsible party will be contacted by community daily, at minimum, in the event they test positive for COVID 19.
- Communication(s) will include status of illness and any pertinent information.
- Proper documentation will be completed by community personnel.
Reporting:
Residents presenting with cold, or flu-like symptoms will be reported to the Vice President of Clinical Compliance and respective Vice President of Operation within 24 hours of becoming symptomatic.
- Communities will comply with established local/state reporting guidelines to all appropriate agencies.
- Positive associates will be recorded on OSHA 300 form and to appropriate state agencies as required.
Testing:
- All new hires must provide proof of negative COVID 19 test results obtained within 3 days prior to first scheduled shift.
- All new admissions must show proof of negative COVID 19 test results within 3 days prior to admission. This can be PCR or rapid test performed by community.
- Rapid testing is acceptable for symptomatic associates and residents for quick diagnosis.
- Testing will be performed in the event of community outbreak or if suspicion of COVID 19 cases is present, regardless of vaccination status. Associates and residents vaccinated or unvaccinated will be tested as necessary.
- Communities will follow all local guidance for COVID 19 testing as required. If more positive cases identified community begins quarantine and isolation protocols. During exposure testing periods all associates will mask in N95 masks. Quarantine period will be 10 days from positive result or onset of symptoms and Associate must be symptom free to return to work. Quarantine for resident positives will also be 10 days from last positive result or onset of symptoms and resident must be symptom free to come out of quarantine. Community wide testing will only be performed as Federal and State guidance requires. Once associate or residents’ tests positive, and quarantine for 10 days from positive or onset or initial symptoms has been completed, no additional retest or negative result is required.
Admission Process:
- Individuals with cold or flu-like symptoms will not be admitted to any Atlas Senior Living communities without proper screening and negative test results.
- All new residents will be tested prior to admission described under “Testing”.
- Admissions may continue regardless of outbreaks, if it is documented family is aware of positive cases and wish to proceed. Resident must still have negative COVID test before admitting.
- If a potential new admission tests positive prior to admit, the must complete quarantine where they are and may not admit until quarantine is over.
Infection Control and Hand Hygiene:
- All associates will receive infection control training, including but not limited to hand washing and proper coughing protocols.
- Community leadership team will monitor to ensuring proper infection control procedures are being followed.
- Signage will be posted at community entrance, discouraging visitors from entering exhibiting cold or flu-like symptoms within the past 72 hours.
- Any symptomatic resident will be monitored and encouraged to remain in room until testing has been conducted with negative test results. Room service will be provided for meals using disposable items.
- Associates entering a symptomatic resident room must wear full personal protective equipment including mask, face shield, gown and gloves until negative test result have been confirmed or isolation period concludes. Established PPE disposal will be followed.
- Associates will wear proper face coverings when providing care as requested by resident for unvaccinated residents, immunocompromised residents, or as requested by any resident regardless of vaccination status.
Visitor Guidelines:
- two or more positive COVID 19 cases among residents identified within the last 10 days
- core principals of core COVID19 infection prevention are not being maintained, including but not limited to routine testing not being performed as required by CMS
- County positivity rate is greater than 10% at community discretion
- Any visitor exhibiting cold, or flu-like symptoms is encouraged to postpone visiting until symptom free for 72 hours
- In times of outbreak visits to COVID positive residents will be allowed, in the residents room only with full PPE protocols.
Tours:
- Any tour exhibiting cold, or flu-like symptoms will be asked to postpone their visit until symptom free for 72 hours.
- In person tours will be suspended until further notice in the event of outbreak status in the community. Once resolved tours will resume.
- Individuals will be encouraged but not mandated to wear face coverings for the duration of the visit.
- Tours must complete sign in documentation upon entering community. Masks will be on hand to dispense as desired.
- Tours must obey guidelines set forth by community
- Designated marketing area will be sanitized after each visit
Staffing:
- Associates will complete sign in process when reporting to work and will inform direct supervisor of feeling unwell or of any flu/cold like symptoms. Masks are encouraged as staff desires but not mandated. Masks will be made mandatory prn based on County, State, or Federal guidance that could be issued.
- Communities will establish written emergency contingency plans in the event of staff shortages caused by illness or illness in associate’s family preventing the ability to work. Plans may include but not be limited to:
- Contact all associates not scheduled to work shift in need
- Use of agency
- Approved overtime
- Cross training associates in various departments
Third Party Caregiver Visits:
- Third-party caregivers are encouraged to wear appropriate face coverings throughout duration of visit.
- Community reserves the right to test for COVID 19 of third-party caregivers based on concern.
- Community reserves the right to deny use of any third-party individual or agency refusing to comply with established infection control/exposure protocols.
- Third party associates will need to show proof of fit test in event of COVID positives in our community or double mask in times of outbreak. Proper approved respirator N95 will need utilized when positives are present.
