Visiting During COVID-19

As vaccination rates rise and positive tests for COVID-19 fall, we are pleased to adjust our visitation policies to allow more guests to connect with their friends and loved ones at Northfield Retirement Community. Please see below for the most recent information about your status as a visitor. Visitation policies may change quickly if there is an outbreak (defined below) on our campus.

Learn more about:

  • Indoor visits
  • Outdoor visits
  • Essential Caregiver/Compassionate Care visits
  • Window visits
  • Video visits
  • When we will change our visitation policy

Visitations

  • Indoor Visits

    NRC has created Visitation Stations specific for each unit to hold indoor visits. These visits will be scheduled in advance through NRC website for a duration of 60 minutes or less once a week. Visitors cannot hold a routine or standing appointment time. Visitor must maintain 6 feet social distance at all times* and follow all infection prevention and safety control practices.

    *If the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing hand-hygiene before and after. Regardless, visitors should physically distance from other residents and staff in the facility.

    Scheduling these visits: submit your request online and our staff will confirm your appointment time.

    Indoor visits may be suspended if county positivity rates or active cases on campus warrant. Please see the “when we will change our visitation policy” section below.

  • Outdoor Visits

    Outdoor visits are a great option and are preferred according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as well as the Minnesota Department of Health, to see loved ones in person in a safer environment vs indoors, weather permitting. NRC has Visitation Stations that provide an infection control barrier between visitors and residents, these are located throughout the campus. Visitor must maintain 6 feet social distance at all times and follow all infection prevention and safety control practices.

    Scheduling these visits: submit your request online and our staff will confirm your appointment time.

    Outdoor visits may be suspended if county positivity rates or active cases on campus warrant. Please see the “when we will change our visitation policy” section below.

  • Essential Caregiver/Compassionate Care visits

    An Essential Caregiver is an individual who was previously actively engaged with the resident or is committed to providing psychosocial health support and/or was providing assistance with activities of daily living prior to pandemic.

    These caregivers at NRC need to complete Essential Caregiver training to participate in either program. They are required to participate in routine COVID testing along the same testing schedule as staff. Essential Caregivers must show a negative test result prior to starting visits.

    In certain circumstances, loved ones may make compassionate care visits. When appropriate, staff will contact those eligible for these visits and the individual(s) will complete the Essential Caregiver training.

    To start these visits for housing , Northfield Care Center .

    Scheduling these visits: for housing, email Jenny Parsons, for the Northfield Care Center .

    In most cases, essential and compassionate care and visits will not be suspended and will continue through an outbreak and when county positivity rate exceeds 10%. In unique circumstances (such as when an individual is quarantined) essential caregivers may have restrictions that will be shared individually by staff.

  • Window Visits

    Visiting with residents through their windows is a way to keep them safe while still keeping them connected. Staff need to work with residents and their visitors to allow window visits and to make sure they are safe and that CMS, CDC, MDH guidelines are followed.

    Open Window

    If a resident’s window will be open during the visit, the resident should stay 3 feet back from the window and should wear a cloth mask. The family member visiting the resident should sit 3 feet back from the window outside the building. The family member should also be wearing a cloth mask. All window visits must comply with social distancing requirements. Visitors must keep at least 6 feet away from people visiting other residents.

    Open window visits may be suspended if county positivity rates or active cases on campus warrant. Please see the “when we will change our visitation policy” section below.

    Closed Window

    Make sure a phone is available for the resident to speak to their loved one, a safe distance from the window is still required.

    Closed window visits will not be suspended.

  • Video Visits

    Video conference services via Zoom. These visits are requested through NRC website. Once your requests scheduled, we will send you an email to confirm your appointment.

    Scheduling these visits: Make your request online.

    Video visits will not be suspended.

When We Will Change Our Visitation Policy

Visitation will be restricted if there is a positive case of COVID-19 within Northfield Retirement Community.

Visitation can resume based on the following criteria:

  • If the first round of outbreak testing reveals no additional COVID-19 cases in other areas (e.g., units) of the facility, then visitation can resume for residents in areas/units with no COVID-19 cases. However, the facility should suspend visitation on the affected unit until the facility meets the criteria to discontinue outbreak testing.

For example, if the first round of outbreak testing reveals two more COVID-19 cases in the same unit as the original case, but not in other units, visitation can resume for residents in areas/units with no COVID-19 cases.

If the first round of outbreak testing reveals one or more additional COVID-19 cases in other areas/units of the facility (e.g., new cases in two or more units), then facilities should suspend visitation for ALL residents (vaccinated and unvaccinated), until the facility meets the criteria to discontinue outbreak testing.