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    Safety is our priority

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    • Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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      • COVID-19
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    • Comments: 0
    • Posted: 6/24/2020

    • Safety Precautions for Long Term Care
    • Safety Precautions for Senior Housing
    • Safety Precautions for Home- and Community- Based Services

    It’s more important than ever for our communities and the people we serve to feel safe and have peace of mind. Safety precautions are in place in all of our care settings to protect residents, clients, employees and our communities. With dedicated staff and precautions you can trust, rest assured knowing it’s safe to receive care and services at the Good Samaritan Society.

    Learn more about our safety precautions:

    Skilled nursing and assisted living facilities

    Infection Control 
    We are taking extra precautions and following CDC infection control protocols. We are practicing what we preach with good handwashing hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitizer, frequent surface cleanings and proper use of personal protective equipment. 

    Testing 
    We work closely with state and local health departments to follow guidance for testing residents and employees. 

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

    Staffing 
    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. As needed and where possible, we designate staff to work in one area of our building to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

    Opening our Doors 
    We are following state and local guidance to determine when and where it is safe for family and friends to visit residents. Visitors and service providers are screened upon entry at our location and wear personal protective equipment during their visits.

    Group Gatherings 
    Residents practice social distancing during mealtimes, social activities and events by staying six feet apart. We encourage residents to wear masks as an extra precaution. 

    Housing with services and affordable housing locations

    Infection Control 
    We are taking extra precautions and following CDC infection control protocols. We are practicing what we preach with good handwashing hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitizer and frequent surface cleanings. 

    Visitors 
    When and where visitors are allowed, they are encouraged to wear masks and limit their movement throughout the building.  

    Tours and Moving In
    We’re staggering tours and move-in dates and times to maintain social distancing. We’re also offering virtual tours as a contact-free alternative to learning more about our community. 

    Group Gatherings and Outings 
    We’re following state and local guidance to determine when it is safe to plan outings and events. Residents are encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing when leaving their apartments. 

    Staffing 
    Staff members monitor their health and stay home if they feel sick or have symptoms. Face masks are required. 

    Home- and community-based services

    Infection Control 
    We are taking extra precautions and following CDC infection control protocols. We are practicing what we preach with good handwashing hygiene and use of alcohol-based sanitizer. At a minimum, we disinfect all the surfaces we use during our visit. 

    Personal Protective Equipment 
    We’re following CDC guidelines for using personal protective equipment. 

    Screening 
    Staff members monitor their health and stay home if they feel sick or have symptoms. Before each visit, our clients are screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure.

    Social distancing 
    When possible, our staff delivers care and services at a distance of six feet to maintain social distancing. 

    Staffing 
    We organize our work schedules to ensure there is little to no risk of virus transmission between staff 
    and our clients.

    Visitation

    To protect our residents, we implemented visitor restrictions early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. While safety remains our priority, the precautions we’re taking allow us to have in-person visits.

    Safe visit requirements are in place in all our locations:

    • Before each visit, all guests are screened for symptoms and potential exposure to COVID-19.
    • Visitors are required to wear a facemask that covers their nose and mouth at all time.
    • Visitors are required to wash or sanitize their hands before their visit.
    • Visits take place in designated visitation areas. When circumstances allow, our first option is to hold visits outside.
    • Visitors must maintain a distance of at least six feet from their loved one, staff and other residents.
    • Each location determines the number of visitors allowed per resident per day, as well as the total number of visitors allowed at the location at one time.

    If you would like to visit one of our locations but are unable to follow these requirements, we ask that you please schedule a virtual visit or window visit instead. For more information, read our safe visit guidelines and safe visit frequently asked questions.

    Do these visitation guidelines 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 senior living apartment, please call the location to ask about any visitation guidelines in place.

    How do I schedule visits with my loved one in nursing homes or assisted living facilities?
    Please contact your local Good Samaritan Society to schedule a visit.

    Are there any situations when in-person visits will be restricted?
    Most locations restrict in-person visits if the county has a COVID-19 positivity rate of 10% or higher, or if an employee or resident has a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Guidelines may vary by state.

    If it’s not safe to visit in-person, do I still have options to stay connected with my loved one?
    Please contact your local Good Samaritan Society 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. You may also send a message online to any resident or employee through our Send-A-Note feature.

    Is there anything I can do to keep in-person visitation open?
    Our opportunity to allow in-person visitation is directly related to the level of COVID-19 transmission in the community. You can do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene, social distancing and staying home when you’re sick. Additionally, following our safe visit guidelines will protect our residents and employees from a COVID-19 infection during a visit.

    Are long-term care residents able to have off-site visits with family and friends?
    Any interaction with members of the community can increase a resident’s risk of exposure to COVID-19.  We do not recommend off-site visits, but know that some residents have important medical needs and appointments that cannot be ignored. Read our safe outing guidelines for more information.

    Vaccines

    Immunizations are among the most effective options for protecting people of all ages from dangerous, even life-threatening diseases. Our employees are required to have the flu vaccine and it’s available to clients and residents.

    For COVID-19 vaccination, we are working with federal pharmacy partners and state departments of health to have COVID-19 vaccines distributed as soon as they become available. Long-term care residents and employees are in a priority group should they choose to receive the vaccine.

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

    Thank you for your continued support of our residents, clients, staff and communities.

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    National Campus
    4800 W 57th St
    Sioux Falls, SD 57108

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    4800 W 57th St
    Sioux Falls, SD 57108

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    The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society (the Society) and Owner comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws. We do not discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, color, national origin, disability, familial status, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status or other protected statuses except as permitted by applicable law, in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities, and in staff and employee assignments to individuals, whether carried out by the Society directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which the Society arranges to carry out its programs and activities. The designated person responsible for coordinating efforts to comply with Section 504 requirements is: Director of Affordable Housing, Property Management, 4800 W. 57th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108; phone: (605) 362-3100. For telecommunications relay service dial 711. All faiths or beliefs are welcome.

    The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation), genetic information, age, marital or familial status, disability, veteran status, or other protected status. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is a 501(c)(3) public charity.

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