03/25/2020
Hi, WILSHIRE Family. In an effort to communicate our evolving policies regarding the Covid-19 outbreak, we are posting the updated CDC/DHSS guidelines for long-term care communities. WLSHIRE will be fully implementing these guidelines .
We are suspending communal dining and communal activities. All meals and activities will be held in resident rooms. Residents were notified of these changes.
We ask that families please call the facility with any questions.
CDC/DHSS Guidance for Limiting the Transmission of COVID-19 for Nursing Homes for ALL facilities nationwide:
Facilities should restrict visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life situation. In those cases, visitors will be limited to a specific room only.
For individuals that enter into a compassionate situations (e.g., end-of-life care), facilities should require visitors to perform hand hygiene and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks. Decisions about visitation during an end of life situation should be made on a case by case basis, which should include careful screening of the visitor (including clergy, bereavement counselors, etc.) for fever or respiratory symptoms. Those with symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat) should not be permitted to enter the facility at any time (even in end-of-life situations). For those visitors that are permitted to visit, they will wear a facemask while in the building and restrict their visit to the resident’s room or other location designated by the facility. They should also be reminded to frequently perform hand hygiene.
1. Cancel communal dining and all group activities, such as internal and external group activities.
2. Implement active screening of residents and staff for fever and respiratory symptoms.
3. Remind residents to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.
4. Screen all staff at the beginning of their shift for fever and respiratory symptoms. Actively take their temperature and document absence of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, and sore throat. If they are ill, have them put on a facemask and self-isolate at home.
5. For individuals allowed in the facility (e.g., in end-of-life situations), provide instruction, before visitors enter the facility and residents’ rooms, provide instruction on hand hygiene, limiting surfaces touched, and use of PPE according to current facility policy while in the resident’s room. Individuals with fevers, other symptoms of COVID-19, or unable to demonstrate proper use of infection control techniques should be restricted from entry.
