Safety is our priority

We're committed to helping our senior communities and the people we serve feel safe and see their loved ones. All of our care settings have safety precautions and vaccination opportunities in place to protect residents, clients, employees and our communities.

With dedicated staff and safety measures you can trust, rest assured knowing it’s safe to receive care, housing and services at the Good Samaritan Society.

Watch an Iowa couple hold hands for the first time in a year.

Learn more about our COVID-19 resources and vaccination efforts.

How to safely visit a Society resident

We allow outdoor and indoor visits for all residents.

Please wear a mask and keep your distance around staff, other residents and in common areas of the building. We recommend wearing a mask during your visit with a resident, especially if you or your loved one is unvaccinated or COVID-19 is widespread in the community. 

Safe visit requirements:

  • Before each visit, guests are screened for symptoms and potential exposure to COVID-19.
  • Visitors are required to wash or sanitize their hands before their visit.
  • Our preferred option is to hold visits outside.
  • We recommend getting tested for COVID-19 two to three days before visiting a Society locationn.

If you would like to visit a location but can't follow these requirements, we ask that you please schedule a virtual visit or window visit. Learn more about visitation and safe outing guidelines at the Good Samaritan Society or browse our frequently asked questions below.

Safety precautions for our locations and home-based services

Vaccines

We’ve worked to give our residents and staff convenient access to the COVID-19 vaccines. All employees are now required to receive their COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and we continue to encourage residents to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 testing
We work closely with state and local health departments to follow guidelines for testing residents and employees.

Staff precautions
Staff members are screened daily, monitor their health and stay home if they feel sick or have symptoms. We are following CDC guidelines for using personal protective equipment and require face masks. When possible, we designate staff to work in one area of a building to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Cohorting
We’ve designed a system to help our staff know the health status of each resident in our locations. This allows staff to follow proper precautions for symptom-free residents and those who are being tested for or infected with COVID-19.

Infection control
Our locations are taking extra precautions and following infection control protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines include practicing good hand hygiene, wearing face masks, using alcohol-based sanitizer and frequently cleaning surfaces.

Group gatherings and outings
For outings, we're following state and local guidance to keep residents safe. We encourage residents to wear masks and practice physical distancing when participating in group activities with the general public or if the group is not fully vaccinated.

Social interaction and activities
We’re reopening amenities and services such as dining, activities and wellness programs. Fully vaccinated residents can participate in these activities without physical distancing or masking.

Tours and moving in
We’re staggering tours and move-in dates and times to maintain physical distancing. We also offer virtual tours as a contact-free alternative.

Home-based services
In addition to following the relevant precautions listed above, our home-based staff delivers care and services at a distance of six feet when possible. We follow CDC guidelines for using personal protective equipment and organize staff work schedules to ensure there is little to no risk of virus transmission between staff and clients.

Safe Visits FAQ

  • Do the safe visit requirements apply across all care and service settings?

    The safe visit requirements are mandatory in all skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes). If you would like to visit a loved one in an assisted living or independent living apartment, please call the location to ask about their visitation guidelines.

  • How do I schedule a visit with my loved one in a nursing home or assisted living location?

    If you have questions, please contact the location directly to schedule a visit.

  • How can I connect with my loved one when it’s not safe for in-person visits?

    Please contact your local Good Samaritan Society location to set up a virtual visit or window visit. We are here to help you stay connected with your loved one, even if you are unable to do so in-person. Find a Good Samaritan Society location.

  • What can I do to help keep in-person visits open?

    You can do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated and practicing other safety measures like wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene, social distancing and staying home when you’re sick. Please follow our safe visit guidelines to help protect our residents and employees.

  • Can long-term care residents have off-site visits?

    Any interaction with members of the community can potentially expose a resident to COVID-19. Please read our safe outing guidelines to learn how to stay safe away from your Society location. These recommendations help protect our residents and staff.

Find a Good Samaritan Society location

Find a location:

Connect with us

Sign up for our newsletter

Contact Good Samaritan Society

Have a question or comment? Connect with us today.

Contact us