On May 12, DSS issued updated tips and best practices for visitation in ALFs. The information focuses on ways to bring more families and friends of residents in ALFs together safely and encourages visitation. The guidance continues to emphasize the importance of core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention. This information superseded all previous recommendation memos. 

The guidelines build upon what the public health community knows about COVID-19 transmission at present and contains updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination from the CDC.

The guidance includes best practices for facility staff, contractors, essential personnel, residents, and other significant people meaningful to a resident’s life. It specifies that facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times and for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident or visitor, unless certain scenarios arise that would limit visitation to compassionate care situations.

The best practices and tips cover:

• visitation recommendations;
• core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention;
• when to pause indoor visitation;
• indoor visitation during an outbreak;
• visitor testing and vaccination;
• compassionate care visits; and
• useful information from VDH for planning.

VHCA-VCAL encourages members to read the memo in its entirety.