Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued new guidance regarding the use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The LifeSpire of Virginia leadership team understands that this information may be confusing regarding its implementation in our communities. For that reason, we wanted to share the organization’s interpretation of these guidelines.
Effective immediately, vaccinated independent living residents are permitted to be in public spaces indoors and outdoors without masks. Independent living residents do not need to go through a health screening to enter the community. Operationalizing the new health screening guidance may take a few days for the communities. Please await direction from community leadership. Residents and visitors who have not been vaccinated should continue to wear masks, socially distance and practice good hand hygiene.
The guidance is a bit different for our higher levels of care. Per the CDC and CMS, masks are still required for residents in our assisted living, healthcare, and memory care neighborhoods. If an IL resident is visiting these areas, masks are required regardless of vaccination status. Visitors to these areas must also wear masks. If both a resident and visitor are fully vaccinated, mask use may be discontinued once inside the resident’s room. Visitors and residents in the higher levels of care will continue to go through health screenings.
All LifeSpire of Virginia team members will continue to wear masks in all levels of care at this time. Team members and residents with salon appointments must continue to wear masks.
Once again, the LifeSpire of Virginia team recognizes that these guidelines are ever-changing, and we appreciate your patience, flexibility and support as our communities continue to do our part to prevent the spread of the virus. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your community’s leadership team with additional questions.