Home ▸ Blog ▸ March 12: Visitation Update

The Lakewood leadership team is pleased to share developing guidelines regarding visitation and the re-opening of our healthcare, memory support and assisted living neighborhoods. This update comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) each issued new guidelines this week.

Regardless of vaccination status, indoor visitation is now available for in levels of care following the CDC, CMS and VDH guidelines which include the vaccination rate of residents at Lakewood, Henrico County’s positivity rate and confirmed infections within the community.

The following core principles of COVID-19 infection control will continue:

• Visitors will be screened upon entry into the community
• Hand hygiene is imperative.
• Face masks are mandatory.
• Social distancing is required between visitors and residents.
• Cleaning and disinfecting per protocols.
• Quarantine is no longer recommended for residents who are being admitted if they are fully vaccinated and have not had prolonged close contact with someone with COVID infection in the prior 14 days.

Residents may now have up to two visitors at a time. Children aged two and older, who are always able to properly wear a mask, are welcome to visit. There is no time limit on visits. Visitors must not congregate in common spaces and should limit movement within the community. Dining and activities are still limited to residents only.

As a reminder, outdoor visitation poses a lower risk of transmission, so visitors are encouraged to enjoy the weather outside with residents. The total number of visitors in each level of care at any one time may be limited by the Lakewood team based upon the number of visitors and the size of the building. Visitors with any active illness or symptoms of COVID-19 are urged to refrain from visitation.

Some further exciting news regarding re-opening includes that trips outside of the community, whether medical or social in nature, do not require quarantining upon return unless there is a COVID-19 exposure. If a trip outside of the community includes an overnight or longer outing, residents who are unvaccinated or who had a known exposure will be quarantined upon return. Additionally, the rehab gym is now open following all appropriate safety protocols.

Residents continue to enjoy communal dining, group programming and activities. Outside service providers have returned and are welcome in all levels of care, to include in-home care, hospice aides, lab and phlebotomy technicians, clergy, mobile imaging and medical providers.

Stay tuned to the COVID-19 Communications Hub for up-to-date information.