Coronavirus Updates Home
In-Person Visitation
New Testing Requirement Effective 1/18/22
NYS Masking and Visitation Requirements Update:
- Masking: As WHCC has already been requesting, a surgical mask is required at all times to enter. Surgical masks will be provided to visitors upon entry. This is a precaution we were already recommending to our visitors, but is now a formal NYS DOH requirement and will be enforced. As a reminder, cloth masks, scarves, buffs, gators, or masks with vents/valves are not permitted.
- Pre-Visitation Testing: The NYS Department of Health, in conjunction with the Governor’s office, is now requiring that ALL visitors be tested for COVID-19 and have proof of a negative test result prior to entry into the nursing home. Visitors include family, friends, vendors, transportation and entertainers. Testing Exemptions are ONLY for: Emergency personnel, Ombudsman representatives or Compassionate care visitors who are visiting in anticipation of end of life or in the case of significant mental, physical, or social decline or crisis. According to the NYS Department of Health, this is a temporary requirement due to the Omicron surge. It will be reevaluated as conditions change. All visitors entering WHCC will be required to provide proof of a negative test result upon entry beginning on Tuesday, 1/18/22. Further details are in the visitation guidelines below.
Please review the visitation guidelines at this link Wesley Health Care Center- Updated Visitation Plan 1-24-22 and if you have any questions, please review the frequently asked questions below:
Visitor Testing FAQ’s:
Q: When should I test?
A: Tests must be conducted one day prior to visitation for antigen tests and two days prior to visitation for NAAT (e.g. PCR) tests. This means, for example, that a test for a Sunday visit should be conducted no earlier than Saturday if it’s an antigen test or Friday if it’s a PCR test. For visitors who visit for multiple days, including a visitor who comes every day, proof of negative testing is required every third day (meaning testing is required on day one, day 4, day 7, and so on). All visitors may use either NAAT (PCR) testing or antigen (Rapid) testing which must either have Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or be operating per the Laboratory Developed Test requirements by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Q: Do I need to secure my own testing supplies?
A: WHCC requests that visitors do their best to attempt to secure their own testing supplies. Although the facility does not have an endless supply of Test Kits, there will be a modest supply available at our front desk. We do ask respectfully at this time of COVID surge in our community that each family unit consider the fact that we are serving 245 residents with approximately 100 visitors per day at minimum. If every visitor utilized our limited supply of kits, WHCC’s supply would be depleted in 2 weeks.
Q: How will my results be validated?
Upon entry, each visitor will be required to physically display proof of a negative COVID test result to our screener and sign an attestation upon sign-in to confirm they have met the testing requirements. WHCC prefers the proof of a negative test result be in the form of a picture, rather than a test strip, due to infection control reasons. If you do not have a test, a test kit can be supplied, and the visitor should return to their vehicle to conduct their test and wait for their results. The visitor should remain out of the facility while pending their results. Visitors who may have difficulty conducting their own test are asked to bring an additional individual to assist them OR are encouraged to come to the facility prior to visiting to pick up a kit to be used at home immediately prior to their visit, as Wesley staff will not be conducting the tests.
Q: Will visitation hours be revised because of this requirement?
A: Wesley requests that visitors please consider visiting between the hours of 7:00 am – 8:00 pm to ensure a screener is available to review test results at the door.
Q: What if I test positive or am still within the 90-day period from my last positive result?
A: If a visitor tests positive outside the building, he/she should not return to the building to display the positive result. If a visitor has had COVID in the past 90 days, he/she must still be tested. If a visitor tests positive, they must be excluded from the facility until they have met CDC isolation criteria for the community (at minimum 5 days) and present a negative test result.
Q: Where can I find testing kits and sites?
- https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html
- https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you
- https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-testing/
- https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-testing/self-collection-kits/
- https://www.covidtests.gov/
Q: What if I am still within the 90-day period from my last positive result?
You are still required to follow this testing requirement and present a negative test.
Q: What is defined as a compassionate care visit?
Immediate end of life situations or a critical situation regarding a resident that is approved by the care staff team to allow for the family to immediately enter without the requirement of a negative COVID test result. The RN unit coordinator, Nursing Supervisor and/or Social Worker will communicate with the front desk when a compassionate care visit is approved in limited circumstances.
Q: How often do I need to get tested if I am a regular visitor?
A regular visitor is defined as a consistent visitor who visits daily or more than 2 times per week, every week. In these cases, a regular visitor requires a test result on day 1, day 4, day 7, and continuing this practice every 3 days.
- An individual who visits less than 2 times per week or infrequently will require a test taken no more than one day prior to each visit (if a rapid/POC test). If a PCR test is obtained, it must be taken no more than two days prior to each
Additionally, please watch the video below on the sign in process for visiting.
Off-Site Visitation
Appointments are no longer required for an offsite visit however:
- An off-campus visit can only occur AFTER a one-time therapy referral and car transfer training has been coordinated by the RN unit coordinator and approval is given. Please allow for at least one week notice to ensure training is conducted. This is a one-time observation with a therapist for any visitor requesting to leave the facility with a loved one for safety reasons. Please discuss your loved one’s level of function with the RN unit coordinator prior to scheduling any off-campus visit. Off-campus visits are not required to follow a timeframe.
- Please see: Guidelines for Resident Leave of Absence or Social Outings Updated 11-21
Virtual or Off-Site Visitation
Step 1:
Please review these guidelines below prior to scheduling virtual or off-site visitation:
Wesley Health Care Center- Updated Visitation Plan 1-24-22
Guidelines for Resident Leave of Absence or Social Outings Updated 11-21
Step 2:
Please make note that virtual visits require pre-scheduled appointments 72 hour in advance.
Scheduling will be shown on a 7-day rolling period.
Visitation scheduling can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/org/thewesleycommunity
Access Code: wesl3y
Questions?
Please refer to Wesley Health Care Center’s full visitation plan above for all details regarding visitation prior to contacting our Wesley team.
Further questions or concerns regarding visitation should be directed to the Life Enrichment Director Meghan DiMeglio, at 518-691-1480 or madimeglio(at)thewesleycommunity.org.