News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Beginning Thursday long term care facility residents statewide can resume scheduled visitations if county positivity numbers meet certain standards.
Cumberland Ridge Assisted Living Administrator Rebekah Blaylock said the Crossville facility is keeping all visitations outside with only two visitors at a time.
“The visits have to be scheduled prior, and then, they have to wear their mask for the duration of the visit,” Blaylock said. “We are checking for COVID symptoms prior to them coming to visit the resident. We meet them at the door.”
Blayock said the majority of the visitation slots have already been filled. To accommodate the volume and follow guidelines, visitations will be limited to about 30 minutes .
Generations of Spencer will allow indoor common area visitations in addition to outdoors. Administrator Buffy Gaither said the main challenge will be making sure families understand safety precautions while visiting loved ones.
“There is a great deal of emotion involved in visitation,” Gaither said. “Especially, when you have not maybe seen a loved one or been close to a loved one in sometime. So, it is just ensuring that family members understand the dynamics of the exposure control and infection control practices before they come on site.”
Both facilities will not require visitors to be tested. If a visitor wants to see a resident in their room, Gaither said then, Generations would require a COVID test.
“We are using the guidance that has been issued from the state of Tennessee the department of health,” Gaither said. “What we are doing is screening individuals that come into common areas.”
Gaither said Generations has not seen a increase in visitors scheduled compared to its window visits but expects more new visitors as word spreads about indoor visitations.
