Winter Park SNFs Update Visitation Rights for Residents

Residents of Winter Park skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and living centers (LVT) may receive visitors at any time under updated guidelines. Facilities must maintain written policies to protect this right, even during emergencies or epidemics.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires facilities to provide reasonable clinical or safety justifications for any visitation restrictions. Such justifications include situations where a resident cannot consent, a visitor has a communicable disease, a visitor’s conduct disrupts the facility, or a resident’s health status warrants limitations, such as during an outbreak where the resident is symptomatic or tests positive.

Facilities must document the specific reasons for any visitation limitations or suspensions and notify residents or their representatives. The rationale and duration of resident-specific restrictions must be recorded in the medical record. Facilities must provide timely notice to all residents and representatives for facility-wide limitations.

CMS advises facilities to limit restrictions as much as possible and encourages alternatives like virtual, window, or outdoor visits. Facilities should also outline steps to enable safe visitation, such as offering visitor testing or requiring personal protective equipment (PPE).