January 8, 2022
To family and friends, due to the vast increase in cases of Covid-19 in our community, I would like to inform everyone of some updates regarding visitation at Bezalel.
As per Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement, effective immediately any visitor to our facility must present evidence of a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of the visit.
For practical purposes this would most likely need to be a rapid test taken at an urgent care or other testing facility.
Due to limited testing supplies Bezalel is unable to provide testing to visitors.
Anyone who does not have evidence of negative Covid test within 24 hours of their visit will unfortunately have to be turned away.
Visitors will have to continue to wear a surgical mask or N95 covering their nose and mouth at all times in the facility.
We ask for your partnership in practicing the core principles of Covid-19 prevention and infection control to continue to keep our residents and staff safe.
As federal, state and local guidance continues to evolve we will update our policies as necessary.
We will always call the family directly if there is any concern regarding an individual resident. Feel free to contact the facility directly with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your partnership through these troubling times.
Charles Light, LNHA
Administrator
April 2021
To our Incredible Families, Friends, and Loved Ones:
It is with great excitement that we share with you the latest guidance in reference to our community’s visitation policy.
The New York State Department of Health has announced, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that nursing home visitation will resume in respect to compliance with stated local, state, and federal mandates.
Our team has included a comprehensive reference checklist to ensure the highest standards of safety and wellness for our staff, and our residents, patients, and their families and loved ones.
The last 12+ months have been unprecedented. Our team would like to thank you for your consistent love, devotion, support, and thanks over the course of the last year as we have navigated and continue to navigate through a time that will live on in infamy. Your support and love has kept us going each and every day.
We would also like to take this opportunity to honor and recognize our incredible team members, who never steered away from this challenging time, and whose commitment has allowed us to shine so much light during a time of such great darkness. We are so proud of you, and are so honored to continue standing beside each and every one of you. The level of appreciation and pride that we have for our team is beyond words can describe.
To our community, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. Welcome home, families and loved ones; we can’t wait to see you! With love, respect, and continuing admiration,
Charles Light, LNHA
Administrator
Policy: In-Person Outdoor/Indoor Visitation
Effective: April 2021
Procedure:
- Residents and their families/friends will be notified of our new visitation policy.
- Appointments will be scheduled by contacting the Director of Recreation, extension 135, at least 24-48 hours in advance.
- Visitors will be screened upon entry, which will include temperature checks, completion of a visitation entry questionnaire, and presentation of one’s latest COVID-19 test results.
- Testing before entry is strongly encouraged by the Department of Health. Nursing homes are strongly encouraged to test visitor prior to their visit to reduce the risk of COVVID-19 transmission.
- Complimentary rapid COVID-19 testing will be made available to those who would like to be tested prior to entry into the facility.
- Visitors must wear a mask at all times throughout the duration of their visit. This is non-negotiable and our administration reserves the right to conclude the visit if this requirement is not respected.
- The allotted length of time for each visit will be limited and structured in such a way to allow for all residents to participate in visitation, while in accordance with the Department of Health’s guidance on the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention.
- Two (2) visits are available at the same time, inside as well as outdoors. Two (2) visitors per resident will be permitted during in-person visitation. Designated visitation safe zones have been created within our facility to ensure both safety and privacy during the visit. The designated areas are the inside lobby and the outdoor patio. Outdoor visitation, weather permitting, will be encouraged.
- Bezalel staff will escort our residents to the in-person visitation location.
- Bezalel staff will supervise the visit to ensure that only vaccinated residents can incorporate “touch” into the visit, as opposed to residents who are not vaccinated.
- We encourage proper 6-feet distancing throughout the visit.
- Additional PPE will be made available to visitors and provided upon request.
- Visitors who are unable to adhere to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention will not be permitted to visit and may be asked to leave:
Indoor visitation will be contingent upon our county’s infection rate. Indoor visitation will be limited during instances in which the county’s infection is >10% AND <70% of residents in the facility who are fully vaccinated.
Residents currently under quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, will be permitted for visitation once cleared by clinical administration and fulfillment of quarantine protocols met by the discontinuation of transmission-based precautions.
Residents who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 or those currently under transmission-based precautions, will not be permitted for visitation until transmission-based precautions have been lifted and cleared by our clinical team. - Our administration reserves the right to release ongoing guidance in reference to visitation to ensure the highest standards of safety and wellness for our residents.
