Long Term & Intermediate Care Facilities

COVID-19 cases have been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and multiple U.S. territories; many having wide-spread community transmission. Given the high risk of spread once COVID-19 enters a Long-term Care Facility (LTCF), facilities must act immediately to protect residents, families, and staff from serious illness, complications, and death. Strategies include recommendations to:

  • Keep COVID-19 from entering your facility
  • Identify infections early
  • Prevent spread of COVID-19
  • Assess supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and initiate measures to optimize current supply
  • Identify and manage severe illness

Testing Information

Testing in Nursing Homes

Nursing homes residents are among the most vulnerable populations for COVID-19 and comprise a high percentage of COVID-19 deaths in Ohio. To protect these residents and the staff who take care of them, the presence of COVID-19 in nursing home facilities must be identified so that measures can be put into place to isolate the virus and contain its spread.

To that end, Ohio’s Congregate Care Unified Response Team (CCURT) has developed an approach for testing these residents and staff guided by the following principles:

  • Protect Ohioans in communities and congregate facilities, including prioritization for nursing home facilities.
  • Use the best available clinical information and most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, including testing prioritization within minority communities.
  • Empower local communities with resources to mitigate and control outbreaks.
  • Leverage the private sector for resources and partnerships.

Ohio’s Plan for Nursing Home Testing commencing June 2

For additional information click here.

Ohio Department of Health Director's Order For Testing Nursing Home Facilities

Effective May 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., each nursing home licensed by ODH or certified by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, shall cooperate with the COVID-19 testing for residents and staff as required by ODH. This includes, but is not limited to, strategic testing of residents in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within a facility and a community.  

Visitation

Outdoor Nursing Home Visitation

On June 29, 2020, Governor DeWine announced that "Today, I am announcing that beginning July 20th, nursing homes are permitted to begin outdoor visitation, so long as all safety standards are met. We are confident that our approach provides each facility the flexibility needed to assess their readiness to safely facilitate outdoor visitation -- and to do so in a transparent way that keeps residents and families informed. Should you have questions about visiting your loved ones, you can always contact the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, an office within the @OhioDeptOfAging at 1-800-282-1206."

July 20 Outdoor Nursing Home Visitation

When assessing their readiness to permit outdoor visitation, nursing homes should consider:
  • Case status in community
  • Case status in nursing home
  • Staffing levels
  • Access to adequate testing for residents/staff
  • Personal protective equipment supplies
  • Hospital capacity

Ohio Department of Health Director's Third Amended Order to Limit Access to Ohio Nursing Homes and Similar Care Facilities, With Exceptions 

 Effective June 8, 2020, Residential Care Facilities (RCFs), Intermediate Care facilities, and Intermediate Care facilities  for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IIDs) may permit residents to have visitors in outdoor settings in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the order. 

This order allows properly prepared assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities to begin to allow outdoor visitation on June 8. The lifted restrictions do not yet apply to nursing homes. 

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Long-Term Care Guidance

    Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Information for Long-Term Care Facilities

    ODH Director's Orders Concerning Long-Term Care Facilities

    Management of Visitors 

    Additional Information