Coronavirus: Outdoor visitation allowed for assisted living, intermediate care facilities

CENTERVILLE — Assisted living and intermediate care facilities were allowed to have guests visit for the first time Monday since mid-March. But, the visits are to remain outdoors until further notice as part of the restrictions the state has put in place to corral the spread of the coronavirus.

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Bill and Libby Friel told News Center 7’s Katy Andersen they are counting down to the moment when they can see their family again.

“It’s like the old saying, ‘you don’t know what you have until you miss it,’ ” Bill said Monday.

The Friels live at Randall Residence of Centerville. Because of COVID 19, the couple has only been able to talk to their family by phone or through a door. “They can come into a foyer, but not into the building, and they can come to the door and talk,” Bill said.

Andersen spoke with Executive Director Ken Scribner about what guests can expect when visiting their loved ones with the new outdoor visitation rules.

“The age of seniors, 55 plus, are used to communicating face-to-face. So what we are doing is taking away the window in-between them, the barrier in-between them, the screen, the Facetime - it all worked. It’s all beautiful. It was great, but it just didn’t connect to their heart. It was more connecting to their mind. So today, we connect the mind and the heart,” Scribner said.

There are certain guidelines that must be followed as part of the orders put in place by Gov. Mike DeWine and state health department Director Dr. Amy Acton.

• Every visitor must make an appointment.
• Visits will be held to one hour.
• Visitors must answer several questions about their recent health, have their temperature checked and wash their hands. They will then be escorted to an assigned chair where they must wear a mask.
• No visitors are allowed inside the building.
• Residents will have to wash their hands, sit in a chair that is about 6 to 8 feet away from their visitors while wearing a mask.
• Residents and visitors will not be allowed to touch each other.

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“So, the risk is huge, but there is also a reward - that these residents find joy and fulfillment in life, in seeing their family members and talking to them,” Scribner said.

Bill Friel said, “Even though we are going to be in mask and 6 feet of separation, we are looking forward to it and appreciate the opportunity to do at least that.”

Outside visitation does not include nursing homes. A plan for those facilities is still being worked on, DeWine has said.

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