Lifespace Communities, Inc. (“Lifespace”) and Friendship Village of South Hills continue to monitor local, state, and federal recommendations for public health recommendations for fully vaccinated residents in our community’s Assisted Living and Memory Care.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated their public health recommendations for fully vaccinated residents. The Department of Human Services (DHS) is strongly encouraging all Assisted Living Residences to implement this new guidance.
According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen). Currently approximately 98% of Assisted Living and Memory Care residents have been fully vaccinated.
Effective Friday, May 14th, fully vaccinated residents may now go outdoors without masks. These individuals may also engage in small group activities and dining without masks or social distancing with other fully vaccinated residents. Additionally, fully vaccinated residents may now travel throughout the community without the use of masks.
In addition, when alone in a resident’s room, fully vaccinated residents and fully vaccinated visitors can choose to have close contact and remove face coverings. Visitors are required to wear face coverings when around team members and when traveling throughout the community.
Unvaccinated residents will continue to wear masks and socially distance from others. If unvaccinated residents participate in group activities, it will be necessary for all residents to wear masks. Unvaccinated residents must also socially distance (6 or more feet) from other residents during mealtime in the dining room. Unvaccinated resident’s visitors are not permitted to remove their face coverings during visits.
Unvaccinated visitors will be required to wear a face mask at all times.
We trust that you will be honest about your current vaccination status, and individuals who endanger others by not following our changing rules and regulations related to COVID-19 will be in violation of their residency contracts.
This continues to be a very fluid and changing situation, and our community leadership team will keep you informed of changes to our current practices. Each resident will be expected to follow all local, state, and federal requirements related to COVID-19. Lifespace health centers and assisted living programs will continue to follow all government requirements.
Fully vaccinated individuals who prefer to socially distance and continue wearing masks have the right to do so, and we encourage you to follow your own health and safety preferences and respect the choices made by your fellow residents and team members who may wish to continue their current infection control practices.
As we continue to carefully monitor and evaluate all county, state and federal activity related to this pandemic, we have started to open various areas of the community. We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of all our safety protocols.
Attached you will find our updated visitation guidelines sign off. All visitors will be required to re-sign the guidelines upon entry of the community.
Thank you again for your continued patience and support. We are honored to serve each one of you.
Sincerely,
Jessica Ciancio
Director of Assisted Living and Memory Care