August 28: COVID-19 Update – Phase II Enhancements
The management team thanks all members of the community for the ongoing support and patience. We are excited to share that we have met the requirements set forth by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Social Services (DSS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We were approved on August 25 to enter Phase II. Our goal with Phase II is to provide increased socialization and visitation for residents at all levels of care in the community through group activities, communal dining and multiple visitation options using thoughtful processes that include appropriate infection control measures.
As many are aware, we have been already providing window visits for all interested parties. Our visitation process will be enhanced with the following new options, starting September 1.
The Culpeper has designated three outdoor visitation station areas:
- In front of the community outside the main entrance, for residential/assisted living resident use
- Within proximity to the health care center, for health care and rehab to home resident use
- At the memory care courtyard gate area, for memory care resident use
Each outdoor visitation station area will have weather coverage by canopy or umbrellas, seating socially distanced at least 10 feet apart with a physical barrier between residents and visitors. Outdoor visitation is encouraged for use when possible.
The Culpeper has also designated two indoor cleanroom spaces for visitation station areas:
- The first floor activities room, for residential/assisted living resident use
- The ambulance entrance area, for health care, rehab to home and memory care resident use Each indoor visitation station will ensure social distancing of at least 10 feet apart with a physical barrier between the resident and visitor.
All visits will require the visitor to meet strict screening criteria upon arrival, mandatory mask use by resident and visitor at all times, hand sanitization before and after the visit, social distancing requirements must be met and no physical contact will be permitted (includes no hugging, no kissing, no handshaking, etc).
Indoor and outdoor visitation will occur 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are hopeful that we can expand visit days/time offerings in the future. All visits will be afforded for 45 minutes or less so that staff can ensure appropriate disinfecting procedures in-between visits. Families and residents may still utilize window visits after 3 p.m. on weekdays and on the weekends.
Family members wishing to schedule a visitation with a resident are requested to call The Culpeper’s main number (540-825-2411) and reserve an appointment with the receptionist.
Additionally, Phase II will also allow our healthcare and memory care residents to increase communal dining and activity opportunities. These too will begin on September 1. The dining and activity spaces will be strategically set up to allow for appropriate distancing and areas/equipment/supplies will be properly cleaned and disinfected before and after each use.
Community members will be updated to additional future opportunities, as allowed by Phase II. Please check the COVID-19 communications hub at https://culpeperretirement.org/blog/covid19/ for up to date communications. Questions may be submitted via email at [email protected] or 540-825-2411.