Dear Family Members and Friends,

The light at the end of the tunnel is here. As you may have seen, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has updated its national guidance on nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, this includes revisions to its recommendations on visitation. The good news is that responsible indoor visitation is once more allowed at Andbe Home. Did I say good news? This is GREAT news for residents and families who have been separated for so long.

Of course, we still need to be safe and follow CDC and state guidelines. Attached you will find the guidelines and protocol that must be followed when visiting. Please understand that as we receive new direction from the CDC, CMS, and KDADS, these guidelines may be subject to change. In addition, if we have a COVID-19 exposure or positive case, we will return to isolation protocols, suspend visitation, while following the CMS guidelines for testing. But for now, we are excited to the opportunity to have you and your loved ones reunite starting March 15, 2021.

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To Summarize our Visitation Protocol:

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• Visitation is encouraged every day of the week within the hours of 9am-5pm, outdoor visitation would be preferred, and weather is permitting, we have the front porch, special care unit gazebo and another beautiful gazebo to have these visits.

•  Indoor visitation will occur in the resident’s room if they have a private room and if they have a roommate than visitation will occur in one of our sunporches.

• Visitors will check in with staff upon entrance through the main entry and will be screened including temperature, screening questions, use of surgical mask (which can be provided by facility) no cloth, gators or vented masks and hand hygiene often.

• Front entrance will remain locked but there is a doorbell to ring so that staff can let you enter and screen you. After cleared through screening we will place a sticker on you with the date so that everyone recognized you have been through the screening process.

We appreciate the personal and emotional toll that this past year has taken on residents and their families. Thank you for your perseverance. We are overjoyed along with you that indoor visits can recommence. That said, we continue to be vigilant in protecting the health and safety of our residents.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at your convenience at megan@andbehome.org or 785.877.2601

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Regards,

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Megan Mapes, Administrator