- Departments
- Departments E-H
- Health
- Community Health
- Coronavirus
- Guidance for Specific Groups
- For long-term care facilities
- Independent and Assisted Living Facilities
Independent and Assisted Living Facilities
In an effort to continue to decrease the spread of COVID-19, long-term care, assisted living, and independent living facilities should continue to follow recommendations that restrict entry to only those who need it as outlined by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Prevention
- Practice personal protective measures (e.g. handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water, respiratory etiquette, etc.)
- Individuals at risk of severe illness, due to compromised immune system, should stay at home avoiding gatherings or other situations of potential exposures, including travel, church attendance, social events with 10 or more people.
Cleaning Recommendations
Residents can practice daily routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
Planning and Looking Ahead
- Ensure 90-day supply of all medicines.
- Ensure 30-day supply of food/personal care items
- Use virtual visits (online) with doctor when possible to minimize exposure
- Have a plan in place if you get sick and need additional healthcare.
- Have plans to contact a friend or loved one for help.
Resources
Facilities should restrict visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life situation. In those cases, visitors will be limited to a specific room only. Facilities are expected to notify potential visitors to defer visitation until further notice (through signage, calls, letters, etc.).
Prevention
- Practice personal protective measures (e.g. handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water, respiratory etiquette etc.)
- Cancel communal dining and all group activities, such as internal and external group activities.
Cleaning
- Management can practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
Planning and Looking Ahead
- Create a log with contact information of visitors and what room they visited
- Have a log at each room to log staff in and out of room
- Have a plan for cohorting residents and staff. Staff only work with those that are quarantined or symptomatic
- Confine symptomatic residents and exposed roommates to their rooms
- Place symptomatic residents together in one area of the facility (unit, wing, etc.)
- Cohort staff on either affected or non-affected units to prevent transmission between units and wings
- Log of symptomatic patients
- Recommend virtual visits for residents
- Have a procedure in place to test for COVID-19 in the facility; proper PPE must be available
- Have a plan in place to be able to have timely reporting to the Health Department
What to do when a case is confirmed
- Isolate or quarantine in place per Health Department orders
Resources
Prevention
- Monitor local information about COVID-19 in your community from trusted sources.
- Practice personal protective measures (e.g. handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water, respiratory etiquette etc.)
- Stay at home if you are sick.
- Only visit facilities for required work or activities.
- Individuals at risk of severe illness should stay at home avoiding gatherings or other situations of potential exposures, including travel, church attendance, social events with 10 or more people.
Cleaning
- Vendors/Instructors can practice daily routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: pens, pencils, etc.) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
- Assure that all equipment you are using inside the facility is properly and adequately cleaned prior to entering the facility.
- Clean equipment used inside facility after every use.
Planning and Looking Ahead
- Promote messages that discourage people who are sick from attending classes. This should include messages requesting that people leave classes if they begin to have symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They should seek medical advice promptly by calling ahead to a doctor’s office or emergency room to get guidance. See CDC guidance on what to do when sick with COVID-19.
- Identify actions to take if you need to postpone or cancel events. If possible, plan alternative ways for participants to enjoy the events by television, radio, or online.
What to do when a case is confirmed
- Isolate or quarantine in place per Health Department orders