Covid-19 Response
Maplecrest Visitation
Posted: March 23, 2021
Happy Spring! As the season’s change here in Wisconsin, I am reminded of the beauty and warmth that lies ahead in the coming months. I am writing with another update to our Maplecrest Visitation Plan and as I look forward to spring, I am also looking forward to these changes. It is nice to see the faces of families and neighbors again in our building and the smiles this brings to our tenants. This last year has been filled with a variety of changes, emotions, disappointment, and restrictions, but it has also been a year of perseverance, growth, patience, and commitment, from our tenants, their families, and our staff. From everyone here at Maplecrest, we want to express our unwavering gratitude for trusting us and working with us over this challenging year.
We look forward to new guidance being developed and released this week by Wisconsin DHS, Bureau of Assisted Living, that allows us to expand our visiting hours and loosen visitor restrictions. This morning I participated in a regular bi-monthly Covid-19 Assisted Living Forum Conference Call and we were presented the new guidance and were told we can move forward with these plans, even as these plans are still being developed. Please help spread the word by sharing these new guidelines with family members and friends. These guidelines are in place to help protect the health and safety or our tenants and staff. The highlights of how the new guidance will affect in-apartment visitation at Maplecrest are as follows:
1. Please do not visit if you are not feeling well, are exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19, have known exposure to Covid-19, even if you are fully vaccinated.
2. We will not have any designated visiting days or visiting hours. Visitors are welcome any day of the week and at any time that is desired by the tenant. We ask that you try to plan your visits as much as possible between the hours of 8am-6pm, when we have additional staff available to help with our visitor screening process.
3. It is still necessary to be screened at the Maplecrest front entrance. The front entrance will still be alarmed, and the vestibule door will be locked. We have instructed our tenants to not unlock the door because staff need to complete the screening. Please be patient with us! It may take a few minutes for staff to arrive to do your screening if they are caring for a tenant. After the screening is completed, we ask that visitors proceed directly to the tenant apartment and refrain from visiting with other tenants in hallways and lounges.
4. Visitation will be limited to only two visitors at a time per tenant; however, anyone may visit once they have been screened. We are not limiting visitors to only “Essential Visitors” as communicated in our previous plans. There is no age limit for visitors.
5. There is no time limit for the length of a visit.
6. We ask that apartment doors are closed during visits.
7. We ask that visitors always wear a face mask while visiting in the building, even while in the apartments. Visitors under the age of 2 are not required to wear a face mask. Tenants, even if fully vaccinated, should be encouraged to wear a mask during the visit.
8. We ask that visitors use hand sanitizer or wash hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water prior to their visit or upon arrival.
9. We ask that visitors keep a social distance of at least 6 feet from all other tenants and staff when in the building.
10. We ask that visitors refrain from use of the laundry rooms, lounges and from walking around the building with tenants during visits.
11. If you have questions for staff during your visit, please press the tenant button or call the facility phone number, so staff may come to you. Please do not try to locate the staff by walking in the hallways or going to the nursing stations.
12. When you have completed your visit, please notify staff by pressing the tenant pendant or by calling the facility phone number, so staff can unlock the door for you and reset the alarm. Please do not unlock the door to let yourself out. If it is easier, you may exit through the patio door.
13. We ask that all visitors self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 14 days following any visit and report any symptoms or positive Covid-19 test to Maplecrest as soon as possible.
14. Visitors who do not adhere to these guidelines will be asked to leave the building and will not be permitted to visit.
We will no longer have scheduled visiting times for use of the Designated Visiting Area. If any tenant or visitor would prefer to visit in the Designated Visiting Area, instead of in the apartment, this area may be used at any time, if it is not being used by someone else.
The guidance for overnight visits/extended visits has not changed. It is still not recommended that assisted living facilities allow overnight guests. There has not been any discussion or suggestion yet as to when this may change. The CDC has guidance about traveling and extended visits with those who remain at high risk for severe illness if exposed to Covid-19.
There have been many questions about whether a tenant may leave Maplecrest to visit a family at home, go out to lunch, attend church, go to a store, etc. Tenants may leave the building at any time and there is no reason to quarantine when they return unless they are exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms or have known exposure to Covid-19. We encourage families and friends to take the tenants out of the building. It is so good for their mental well-being. We are available to assist tenants in and out vehicles at Maplecrest, if help is needed.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions, or need further explanation. We look forward to seeing you at Maplecrest! Thank you again for helping us keep our tenants and staff safe and healthy!
Chad Liptow, Executive Director