Updated October 2023

Visitation Policy

1. Purpose: In-Person Visitation bill has been signed into law, creating Section 408.823, Florida Statutes titled In-person visitation and may be cited as “No Patient Left Alone Act.” 
2. Meridian Senior Living managed communities developed the following policy based on this new requirement. 
3. The community will provide the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) with a copy of the facility’s visitations policy and procedure with the renewal application and/or change of ownership application. The community will make the visitation policies and procedures available to the agency for review at any time, upon request. 
4. The community will designate the Executive Director as the person responsible for ensuring staff adhere to the policies and procedures. 
5. Safety-related policies and procedures are not more stringent than those established for staff of the community and visitors are not required to provide proof of any vaccination or immunization. 
   • This policy and procedure allows consensual physical contact between a resident and the visitor. 
6. The community recognizes residents may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver. 
7. The community will allow in-person visitation by the essential caregiver for at least 2 hours daily in addition to any other visitation authorized. 
8. The community does not require an essential caregiver to provide necessary care to a resident. The designated essential caregiver will be documented in the resident’s electronic medical record and updated upon the resident’s request. Residents are allowed in-person visitation in all the following circumstances, unless the resident objects: 
   • End-of-life situations. 
   • A resident who was living with family before being admitted to the provider’s care is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support. 
   • The resident is making one or more major medical decisions. 
   • A resident is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died. 
   • A resident needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver. 
   • A resident who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking. 
9. The community has no limit on the number of visitors per resident. 
   • The community may limit the total number of visitors allowed in the facility at any given time based on the ability of staff to safely screen and monitor the space used to accommodate the visitors and based on adherence to the infection control protocols of physical distancing. 

Visitors Schedule

1. The community welcomes visitors at any time. 
   • General visiting hours are between 0800-2100. After 2100 visitors should coordinate with staff for access. 
   • There is no limitation on the visitation length. 

Visitation Screening 

1. a) The community will screen the visitor per the facility’s infection control policy and procedure. 
   • i. visitors will not be compelled to provide proof of vaccination or immunization status but
   • ii. visitors may be prohibited from entering the building if they exhibit obvious signs/symptoms of infection.

Infection Control Education for Visitors

1. Visitors will be provided with education on the community’s infection control precautions. 
   1. This policy does not prohibit visits if the specific resident to be visited is quarantined, tested positive, or showing symptoms of a communicable disease. 
   2. Visits in these circumstances will require a higher level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) than standard masks. 
   3. PPE will be provided to the visitor and will be in accordance with the most recent CDC guidance for healthcare workers. 
2. The community does not require visitors to agree in writing to follow the visitation policies and procedures. However, if the visitor has violated the policies and procedures, the community may suspend in-person visitation for the specific individual.
   
    

The above guidelines are subject to change therefor the information above might not reflect our guidelines today. Kindly call and ask to speak with our Executive Director if you have any questions.