ATLAS SENIOR LIVING CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
POLICY AND PROCEDURE UPDATED 09/26/2022
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 THE 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 ACTIVITIES OR CLOSE CONTACT ACKNOWLEDGE THE INHERENT RISKS OF EXPOSURE.
- ANY VISITOR WITH COLD OR FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, FEVER, ACHES OR GENERALLY FEELING UNWELL WILL BE ASKED TO POSTPONE THE VISIT UNTIL 72 HOURS OF BEING SYMPTOM-FREE.
- ATLAS SENIOR LIVING POLICY AND MASK ENFORCEMENT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON POSITIVES IN THE 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:
Community leadership teams will:
• 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 team members 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.
- Positive associates will be recorded on OSHA 300 form and appropriate state agencies as required.
Testing:
- All new hires must provide proof of negative COVID-19 test results obtained within 3 days before the first scheduled shift.
- All new admissions must show proof of negative COVID-19 test results within 3 days before admission. This can be PCR or rapid tests performed by the community.
- Rapid testing is acceptable for symptomatic associates and residents for quick diagnosis. Positive test results will be confirmed with PCR testing by Atlas Senior Living. Routine community-wide testing due to exposure or community positive will be done via Longleaf laboratory via PCR respiratory panel.
- Testing will be performed in the event of a 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.
- When there are 2 or more resident positives, all associates and residents will be tested as warranted and retested 4 days after exposure as needed based on State requirements. If there are no further positives community returns to pre-exposure status. If more positive cases are identified community begins quarantine and isolation protocols. During exposure testing periods all associates will mask in N95 masks. The Quarantine period will be 10 days from positive result or onset of symptoms and associates must be symptom-free to return to work. Quarantine for resident positives will also be 10 days from the last positive result or onset of symptoms and residents must be symptom-free to come out of quarantine. Additional positive results during routine testing will start 10 days count over until no new positives are found. 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 before admission described under “Testing”.
- Admissions may continue regardless of outbreaks if it is documented family is aware of positive cases and wish to proceed. Residents must still have a negative COVID-19 test before admitting.
- If a potential new admission tests positive before admission, they must complete quarantine where they are and may not admit until the 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 ensure proper infection control procedures are being followed.
- Signage will be posted at the 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 the 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 a mask, face shield, gown, and gloves until negative test results have been confirmed or the isolation period concludes. Established PPE disposal will be followed.
- Associates will wear proper face coverings when providing care as requested by the resident for unvaccinated residents, immunocompromised residents, or as requested by any resident regardless of vaccination status.
Visitor Guidelines:
- All Visitors need to be free of flu-like symptoms and may wear a face mask as desired while in the community.
- Guests will be encouraged to visit with residents throughout the community and follow infection control guidelines by washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and social spacing as much as possible from other residents. Outdoor visitation is encouraged, weather permitting.
- Visits may occur in the resident room and around the community, being mindful of other residents and allowing space for distancing from others.
- Visitors’ sign-in must be conducted and recorded upon community entry.
- Guidelines established by local/state/federal agencies will be followed during visitation, county positivity rates will be monitored as needed.
- Visitors will be asked (no visit can be refused) to reconsider unnecessary visits under the following circumstance:
§ Two or more positive COVID 19 cases among residents identified within the last 10 days
§ Core principles 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 are encouraged to postpone visiting until symptom-free for 72 hours
§ In times of outbreak visits to COVID-positive residents will be allowed, in the resident’s 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 the community. Masks will be on hand to dispense as desired.
- Tours must obey guidelines set forth by the community.
- Designated marketing area will be sanitized after each visit.
Staffing:
- Associates will complete the sign-in process when reporting to work and will inform directly to the 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 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 the 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 the visit.
- Community reserves the right to test for COVID-19 of third-party caregivers based on concern.
- Community reserves the right to deny the 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 to be utilized when positives are present.
