Resilient Life Care’s Response to COVID-19

The purpose of this plan is to provide Resilient Life Care with a framework for health care preparedness planning and continued operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information and tools in this plan are adapted for the needs of Resilient Life Care, staff, patients and community. This plan will address the specific roles of each staff member at Resilient Life Care’s facility for traumatic brain injury treatment and COVID-19 precautions, including:

  • specific roles in providing triage and outpatient care (surge capacity as an alternate care site) of patients with COVID-19-like illnesses, while still providing for the ongoing medical care of all patients

OBJECTIVES

The leadership team is responsible for being aware of the aspects of the plan that pertain to the facility and for implementing this plan during a pandemic such as the current COVID-19 situation. The Director of Nursing and Program Director is responsible for reviewing this plan annually and/or on an as-needed basis.

POLICY

This plan will address all aspects of health care and surge capacity as they apply to each pandemic planning phase while:

  1. Maintaining, to the extent possible, health care services to meet the needs of Resilient Life Care patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,
  2. Maximizing Resilient Life Care’s ability to respond to patients’ health care needs, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,
  3. Monitoring staff and residents’ temperatures on a routine basis,
  4. Requiring staff to wear masks issued for the day while at the facility, have their temperatures taken at the front door, and wash hands before touching any surfaces in the facility,
  5. Requiring residents to wear masks in common areas and when out of rooms,
  6. Requiring temperatures to be retaken at the door when returning from trips to the grocery and pharmacy and sanitizing/washing hands upon reentry to the facility,
  7. Following all guidelines on sanitizing when returning to the facility including taking your temperature at the door before reentry to the facility after transporting residents to any outside appointments,
    • Educating staff and residents on respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette and handwashing protocols
    • Following guidelines for when sick staff can return to work
  1. Increasing environmental cleaning efforts,
  2. Scaling back activities and events for residents and staff as appropriate,
  3. Collecting a stock of non-perishable items,
  4. Keeping staff and residents updated on new policies regarding COVID-19 and
  5. Rebuilding and reinstating services when appropriate.

When Residents or Staff Show Signs/Symptoms of COVID-19:

  1. If a staff member has a temperature, (definition of temperature is based on state and CDC levels) the staff member will be sent home immediately.
  2. If a resident has an increased temperature, we will provide a mask to the resident and escort him/her to another safe area, away from other residents (preferably his/her room).
  3. In either case, the DON/Program Director will be notified.
  4. PPE including masks for staff and residents will be provided.
  5. We will perform an assessment for other signs/symptoms of COVID-19.
  6. We will notify the patient’s medical doctor and form a plan of action.
  7. We will disinfect all areas of the house.

When Accepting New Admissions to the Facility:

  1. A Covid-19 screen will be conducted on the new patient.
  2. A Covid-19 test will be performed before admission to the facility.
  3. Each new patient will be oriented on the facility’s COVID policy as of the date of admission.

Instructions for Visitors such as Repair Personnel, Yoga Instructors, Music Therapists:

  1. A Covid-19 screening will be filled out upon entry into the facility.
  2. The guest’s temperature will be taken.
  3. Wearing a mask will required. If personnel do not have a mask, the facility will supply one.
  4. Guests must wash hands upon entry.
  5. Guests must stay only in the area that needs to be assessed or serviced.

When Residents Leave the Facility:

  1. Residents must wear a mask.
  2. Hand sanitizer will be available in the staff vans.
  3. Gloves will be available in the staff vans.
  4. Upon reentry to the facility, the temperatures of the resident and accompanying staff member will be taken and their hands must be washed.
  5. Facility vans are to be disinfected after each use.

When Staff Returns from Vacation:

  1. Staff will follow best practices on stringent hygiene when traveling.
  2. Staff will honestly answer questions upon return, regarding social distancing and stringent hygiene protocol.
  3. Depending on answers to the questions upon return, the leadership team will determine if the staff person will be “required to self-quarantine” for 14 days.
  4. If staff member visits a state on vacation that is considered a “hot spot” such as Texas, Florida or California, they will be required to quarantine for 14 days before returning to work.
  5. Staff should not return to work if experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and should continue to watch for symptoms after a return from vacation.
  6. If a staff member decides to travel out of state, depending on the changes in guidelines, he/she may be notified that he/she needs to self-quarantine for 14 days. This policy may change depending on COVID-19 developments worldwide.
  7. If staff is required to self-quarantine for the 14 days, he/she may use paid time off (PTO).

If you have any further questions, please contact your loved one’s facility. Alternatively, you may also contact Resilient Life Care via our online contact form.