New Visitation Guidelines

Bethel Lutheran Home and Bethel Suites is happy to announce indoor visitation at all times and for all residents as permitted under the regulations. While previously acceptable during the PHE, Bethel Lutheran Home and Bethel Suites will no longer limit the frequency and length of visits for residents, the number of visitors, or require advance scheduling of visits.

We must continue limit visitor movement in the facility. For example, visitors are not allowed to walk around different halls of the facility. Rather, they should go directly to the resident’s room or designated visitation area. There is no limit on the number of visitors that a resident can have at one time, visits should be conducted in a manner that adheres to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention and does not increase risk to other residents.  Also, we will continue to avoid large gatherings (e.g., parties, events) where large numbers of visitors are in the same space at the same time and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

If the county’s COVID-19 community level of transmission is substantial to high, all residents and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, should wear face coverings or masks and physically distance, at all times. In areas of low to moderate transmission, the safest practice is for residents and visitors to wear face coverings or masks and physically distance, particularly if either of them is at increased risk for severe disease or are unvaccinated. If the resident and all their visitor(s) are fully vaccinated and the resident is not moderately or severely immunocompromised, they may choose not to wear face coverings or masks and to have physical contact. Visitors should wear face coverings or masks at all times, except when in the residents room or designated visitation area.

While not recommended, residents who are on transmission-based precautions (TBP) or quarantine can still receive visitors. In these cases, visits should occur in the resident’s room and the resident should wear a well-fitting facemask (if tolerated). Before visiting residents, who are on TBP or quarantine, visitors will be made aware of the potential risk of visiting and precautions necessary in order to visit the resident. Visitors should adhere to the core principles of infection prevention.

Unvaccinated residents may also choose to have physical touch based on their preferences and needs, such as with support persons for individuals with disabilities and visitors participating in certain religious practices, including in end-of-life situations. In these situations, unvaccinated residents (or their representative) and their visitors will be advised of the risks of physical contact prior to the visit.

While it is safer for visitors not to enter the facility during an outbreak investigation, visitors will still be allowed in the facility. Visitors will be made aware of the potential risk of visiting during an outbreak investigation and adhere to the core principles of infection prevention. If residents or their representative would like to have a visit during an outbreak investigation, they should wear face coverings or masks during visits, regardless of vaccination status, and visits should ideally occur in the resident’s room.

Visitor testing and vaccination can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and Bethel may ask about a visitors’ vaccination status, however, visitors are not required to be tested or vaccinated (or show proof of such) as a condition of visitation. If the visitor declines to disclose their vaccination status, the visitor should wear a face covering or mask at all times.

Thank you for your cooperation  and we look forward to your visit.