Facial Coverings Policies & Procedures

Facial Coverings Policies and Procedures

Policy

In accordance with the Florida Statutes §408.824 and the standards set forth in the Florida Administrative Code 59AER23-1 and -2, Villas at Killearn Lakes has adopted the following policy regarding the use of facial coverings for infection control by Elder, visitors, staff members and others coming into the Facility.

Procedure

  1. The Villas at Killearn Lakes does not require the universal use of facial coverings by persons in order to gain access to, entry upon, service from, or admission to the facility or otherwise discriminate against persons based on their refusal to wear a facial covering.
  2. Persons who freely choose to wear facial coverings while within the Villas at Killearn Lakes facility may do so based upon their personal preference.
  3. Facial coverings remain an important intervention in preventing respiratory bacterial and viral transmission. The Villas at Killearn Lakes and its health care practitioners may choose to require an Elder to wear a facial covering only when the Elder is in a common area of the facility and is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has been diagnosed as having an infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
  4. The Villas at Killearn Lakes and its health care practitioners may choose to require a visitor to wear a facial covering only when the visitor is:
    1. exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission;
    2. in sterile areas of the facility or an area where sterile procedures are being performed;
    3. in an Elder or clinical room with an Elder who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission;
    4. visiting an Elder whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the patient with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a patient and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary to the Elder’s safety.

Opt-out Requirements of 59AER23-2 when facial coverings are being required.

  1. The Villas at Killearn Lakes will follow the regulations of 59AER23-2 for persons requesting to opt-out of wearing a facial covering.
  2. Villas at Killearn Lakes and its health care practitioners who choose to require a facial covering for any Elder will provide for the opting-out of wearing a facial covering that is in accordance with the Florida Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, section 381.026, F.S., including the following:
    1. 381.026 (5) Responsibilities Of Patients.- Each patient of a health care provider or health care facility shall respect the health care provider’s and health care facility’s right to expect behavior on the part of patients which, considering the nature of their illness, is reasonable and responsible.
    2. 381.026 (4)(b)3. Rights Of Patients – A patient has the right to be given by his or her health care provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis, unless it is medically inadvisable or impossible to give this information to the patient, in which case the information must be given to the patient’s guardian or a person designated as the patient’s representative. A patient has the right to refuse this information.
    3. 381.026 (4)(b)4. Rights Of Patients – A patient has the right to refuse any treatment based on information required by this paragraph, except as otherwise provided by law. The responsible provider shall document any such refusal.
    4. ​381.026 (4)(b)5. Rights Of Patients – A patient in a health care facility has the right to know what facility rules and regulations apply to patient conduct
  3. Villas at Killearn Lakes and its health care practitioners who choose to require a facial covering for any visitor will provide for the opting-out of wearing a facial covering when requested by the visitor if an alternative method of infection control or infectious disease prevention is available based upon the individual resident’s and visitor’s circumstance.
  4. As a health care provider, the Villas at Killearn Lakes will allow an employee to opt out of facial covering requirements unless an employee is:
    1. Conducting sterile procedures
    2. Working in a sterile area,
    3. Working with a patient whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the patient with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a patient and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the patient’s safety,
    4. With a patient on droplet or airborne isolation, or
    5. Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.

References Florida Administrative Code 59AER23-1 and 2 Definitions and Standards for the Appropriate Use of Facial Coverings for Infection Control Florida Statutes §408.824 Chapter 2023-43, Laws of Florida

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Most Popular Questions

We understand that choosing the right assisted living community involves many important decisions and questions. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Villas at Killearn Lakes.

Environment:
Villas at Killearn Lakes is a home, not a facility. The Villas' innovative atmosphere, architecture and design have been developed to create -- not mimic -- a residential living space with built-in support.

Care:
Villas at Killearn Lakes is committed to a person-directed environment – a hallmark of the "small house" and a concept that’s central to culture change in long-term care. Villas staffing patterns and our "universal worker" care partners will provide for staffing ratios that are double that of some traditional, larger assisted living facilities.​

Cost:
Villas at Killearn Lakes will implement a simple and predictable pricing structure that is an all- inclusive base rate with no add-ons or fees for additional services. We believe this offers residents and families financial peace of mind. Even our cost model is de-institutionalized. ​

The term “small house” has developed as a way to describe the relative size difference between a traditional long-term care facility and a home built to a more residential scale. Typically, there are several “small house” homes situated in a neighborhood. The neighborhood forms a community that is operated as a single site, yet with each home having its own resident-driven character and house rules. A team of care partners provides assistance with activities of daily living, meals, housekeeping, and other services to all of its residents. The small house movement began in nursing home settings and has begun to spread to assisted living communities like Villas at Killearn Lakes. It is often considered to be a subset of a larger philosophy of care known as the “household model.”

Since the goal of this model is to create home in every sense of the word, a neighborhood is an important way to live out that reality. Most of us in bedroom communities like Northeast Tallahassee live in neighborhoods for much of our lives. When we need a little extra help it’s nice to be able to keep living in ways that are familiar to us. Receiving home care services in one’s original home can sometimes breed isolation. While relocation can be difficult when more assistance is needed, moving to another neighborhood that has built-in services to help us age in community can help ease the transition.

Residents of the Villas will be those individuals who require some type of assistance with daily living. Multidisciplinary assessments of potential residents will help Elders, families, and staff at the Villas to work together to determine if the Villas will be the best fit for the Elder’s desires and needs.

Villas at Killearn Lakes has (3) All-inclusive rates based on care needs, Essential, Moderate, and Extensive. Please see our cost page for more details. Many long- term care insurance policies provide coverage for assisted living and memory care services, and will be accepted for payment by Villas at Killearn Lakes. Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health care plans typically do not pay for these services.​.

A multidisciplinary team of coaches led by a licensed assisted living administrator known as a “Guide” will support the operations at Villas at Killearn Lakes. Core characteristics of small house operations include a highly trained and empowered direct care workforce (“care partners”) and decisions made by the Elders to the maximum extent possible (“person-directed”). The job of the Guide and support team is to provide the optimum environment for Elders to be “well-known” by the care partners. Care partners, who fill all daily staff functions in the home, develop a deep knowledge of Elders and are empowered to make decisions in partnership with them, which in turn supports the direction provided by the Elder.

Villas at Killearn Lakes, LLC is a Limited Liability Company based in Tallahassee, Florida. The majority of the owner partners are Tallahassee residents, owning over 60% of the company. The managing partners are Christopher Mulrooney, Chairman, a Tallahassee-based partner; and Klaus Axen, Vice-Chairman, a partner based in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Axen operates similar neighborhoods in the greatr Tucson area.

 

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