PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to promote and protect a Resident’s right to receive visitors in compliance with Florida Senate Bill SB 988.

POLICY
The resident has the right to receive visitors of his or her choosing at the time of his or her choosing, subject to the resident’s right to deny visitation when applicable, and in a manner that does not impose on the rights of another resident. In accordance with FS 408.823, a resident and/or their legal representative may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian or other individual.

PROCEDURE

1. The health and safety of the Resident is the Community’s foremost concern. The Community recognizes
   that visitation is important to the Resident’s mental and emotional well-being, and guests are welcome
   at all reasonable hours. Residents can meet with guests privately in their Apartment. If private visitation
   cannot occur in the Resident’s Apartment, the Community will provide access to a room or area that is
   private.
2. The Community will adhere to the most updated local, state, and federal guidance and laws to facilitate
   private and safe visitation and will keep the Resident and Authorized Representative informed of any
   visitation restrictions.
3. Overnight guests are generally not permitted in the Resident’s Apartment. Limited exceptions may be
   granted by the Executive Director in his or her sole discretion.
4. All Parties agree to adhere to Community’s requirements during visitation, and all Parties understand
   that the Community reserves the right to remove any guest from the Community for refusing to abide
   by the Community’s requirements.
5. The facility will provide immediate access to a resident by immediate family and other relative of the resident, subject to the resident’s right to deny or withdraw consent at any time.
6. The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman will be given access to examine a resident’s medical, social and administrative records in accordance with State law.
7. The facility will provide immediate access to a resident by others who are visiting with the consent of the resident, subject to reasonable clinical and safety restrictions and the resident’s right to deny or withdraw consent at any time;
8. Residents are allowed a max of 2 visitors at time. Facility may set a maximum number of visitors at a given time based on the ability of staff to safely screen and monitor as well as space to accommodate visitors.
9. Designated people are allowed to a visit a maximum of two (2) hours per day, 7 days a week between the hours of 9:00am – 9:00 pm. The facility may make exceptions to the 2-hour visitation on case-by-case basis for end-of-life residents. These exceptions will be discussed and agreed upon in writing by the facility administrator or designee and the resident’s responsible party.
10. Consensual physical contact between a resident and a visitor is allowed.
11. The facility will inform each resident and/or resident representative of his or her visitation rights and related facility policies and procedures.
12. The facility will inform each resident of the right, subject to his or her
    consent, to receive the visitors who he or she designates as well as deny
    visitation including but not limited to:
    a. A spouse, including a same sex spouse;
    b. A domestic partner, including same sex domestic partner;
    c. Another family member;
    d. A friend;
    e. Essential Caregiver
    i. Essential Caregiver may be a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as designated by the resident
    ii. The facility will allow in-person visitation by the essential caregiver for at least 2 hours daily, in addition to any other visitation authorized by the facility
    iii. The Essential Caregiver is not required to provide care to the resident.
13. The facility will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges
    based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual
    orientation or disability. The facility does not require visitors to submit
    proof of any vaccination or immunization.
14. The facility will ensure all visitors enjoy full and equal visitation privileges
    consistent with resident preferences.
15. The facility will provide access to other non-relative visitors who are visiting with the consent of the resident. Visitors are subject to reasonable restrictions, which may include:
    a. Restrictions imposed by the facility that protect the security of all the facility’s residents, such as keeping the facility locked at night;
    b. Denying access or providing limited and supervised access to a visitor if that individual has been found to be abusing, exploiting, or coercing a resident;
    c. Denying access to a visitor who has been found to have been committing criminal acts such as theft;
    d. Denying access to visitors who are inebriated, under the influence and/or disruptive;
    e. Establishing reasonable visitation hours to facilitate care giving for the resident or to protect the privacy of other residents, such as requiring that visits not take place in the resident’s room if the roommate is asleep or receiving care; or
    f. Changing the location of visits to assist care giving or protect the privacy of other residents if these visitation rights infringe upon the rights of other residents in the center.
16. The facility may suspend in-person visitation if the visitor violates any of the facility’s policies and procedures.
17. The facility will provide all visitors with information on infection control including but not limited to hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and screening and any other infection protocols for visitors.
18. All visitors are required to be screened upon entering the facility. Screening includes answering all questions are the screening questionnaire and having their temperature taken. Visitors must also sign in/out on the visitor’s log at the front desk indicating their name, date, times in/out and who they are visiting.