Visitation in Assisted Living Residences

To: Assisted Living Residences Public Health Order 20-20 was most recently revised on March 12, 2020. Since that time, there have been questions about visitation in residential settings. Randy Kuykendall, Director of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division, penned a letter to assisted living residences providing clear direction about visitors. The letter states: “This Order [Public Health Order 20-20] directed skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and intermediate care facilities, to restrict visitation of non-essential individuals, while also requiring facilities to develop policies for the entry of third-party vendors that provide necessary services to the facility and residents. Since March, the Department has continued to receive inquiries from the public and facilities regarding the implementation of this public health order. Specifically, the Department has been made aware that some facilities are denying the entry of medically necessary healthcare workers. Denying entry of agency staff and other practitioners is very concerning because as the COVID-19 crisis continues into the foreseeable future, residents are losing strength and mobility and are not receiving physician-ordered services and treatments. Under Public Health Order 20-20, medically-necessary healthcare workers are not to be considered non-essential visitors, and must be allowed entry. These providers and companies fall under Paragraph III of the Order, which sets forth the requirements related to third-party vendors. Facilities are to revise their policies, practices and procedures to implement necessary actions and best practices to prevent potential disease transmission while allowing third party vendors to provide necessary services to residents.” To read the full letter, follow this link: Letter from Randy Kuykendall For further questions, please contact Cheryl McMahon RN, Home and Community Facilities Branch Chief at Cheryl.mcmahon@state.co.us.