Visiting the Lodge
How visits work at the Lodge, walked through one question at a time.
Our Visitation Policy, in Plain Words
The Lodge is the Village’s assisted living residence, licensed by the State of Florida. Florida law asks every assisted living facility to publish how it handles visits. This page walks through ours.
Each answer below points to the section of the policy it comes from. The complete policy is at the bottom of the page, and you can download a copy.
Where Would You Like to Start?
Follow the path from planning a visit to the moments that matter most, or jump straight to your question.
-
Can I come whenever I like?
Yes. Residents of the Lodge may have visits from anyone they choose, at any time of day.
The one exception is overnight stays. The Lodge cannot host overnight guests unless management has made an exception. Family who need a place to stay can ask the Village Manager about renting one of the Village guest houses.
Policy section 2a -
How many of us can come at once?
There is no set limit. The only limits are the building’s capacity as set by the Fire Marshal and the number of visitors staff can look after well at one time.
Policy section 2b -
What happens when I walk in?
Please sign in at the visitor table. That is the only screening we do.
The sign-in sheet has a few questions and guidelines on it, and a folder on the same table holds this visitation policy. If you would like to know more about how we keep everyone well, ask any staff member.
Policy section 1a and 1b -
Will I be asked for a vaccine card?
No. Visitors are never asked for proof of any vaccination or immunization.
You will find hand sanitizer at the entrances and at points throughout the Lodge, for visitors, staff, and residents alike.
Policy section 1d and safety provisions -
What if I’m not feeling well?
If you have signs of a respiratory illness, please stay home and come back once you have been free of symptoms for 24 hours.
Essential caregivers are the exception: they will not be turned away, and we will give them extra protective equipment to wear during the visit.
Policy section 1c -
Can I give Mom a hug?
Yes. Residents may hug, hold hands with, and have other physical contact with any visitor they choose, as long as they want it.
Policy section 1e -
What is an essential caregiver?
Any resident may name a family member, friend, guardian, or other person as their essential caregiver. Essential caregivers may visit from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., or at other times arranged with the Lodge.
An essential caregiver is there for company and support. We will never require an essential caregiver to provide a resident’s care.
Policy section 4 and safety provisions -
Are there times you will always let me in?
Yes. Unless the resident objects, in-person visits are always allowed when:
- a resident is nearing the end of life
- a resident who lived with family before moving in is struggling with the change and misses that in-person support
- a resident is making one or more major medical decisions
- a resident is in emotional distress, or grieving a friend or family member who recently died
- a resident needs the encouragement to eat or drink that a family member or caregiver used to give
- a resident who used to talk with others has gone quiet
-
Who makes sure this is followed?
The Lodge’s head nurse or the facility administrator is responsible for making sure staff follow this policy.
If you have a question about visiting, start with the Village Manager at the Sebring office: 863-385-6058 or sebring.manager@sim.org.
Policy section 3
The Complete Text
This is the SIM Lodge visitation policy as adopted. The answers above are a plain-language guide to it; where they differ, this text governs.
SIM Lodge ALF
Visitation Policy and Procedure
Authority:
On April 6, 2022, Governor DeSantis signed the “No Patient Left Alone” act into law. This policy explains how SIM Lodge will implement that law (FS 408.823).
Policies:
- Infection control and education policies for visitors; screening, personal protective equipment, and other infection control protocols:
- Staff will make infection control policies and procedures available as needed to visitors to the facility to educate them on how to protect everyone from illness.
- There are questions and guidelines on the visitor sign-in sheet. There is also a folder containing our visitation policy and procedure on our sign-in table. Infection control education is available to visitors upon request.
- Visitors are requested to sign into the facility. No other screening is required.
- Staff (as long as we have coverage; if not, staff will wear a mask) and general visitors who exhibit signs and symptoms of respiratory illness will be asked not to return to the Lodge until they have been symptom-free for twenty-four hours. Although essential caregivers will not be denied entry, they will be given a higher level of PPE while in our facility.
- Hand sanitizer is available for use by visitors, staff, and residents at facility entrances and at key points throughout the facility.
- Residents are permitted to have consensual physical contact with visitors of their choice.
- Staff will make infection control policies and procedures available as needed to visitors to the facility to educate them on how to protect everyone from illness.
- Permissible length of visits and numbers of visitors:
- Residents are permitted to visit with any person of his or her choice, at any time, but overnight accommodations are not available in the Lodge, unless an exception has been made with management.
- There is no limit on the number of visitors allowed in the facility at one time provided the capacity determined by the Fire Marshal is not exceeded and staff is able to effectively manage visitor volume within the facility.
- The head nurse or facility administrator shall be responsible for ensuring that staff adhere to the visitation policies and procedures.
- A resident may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver. Essential caregivers may visit between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm or as individually arranged with the facility.
- In-person visitation will always be allowed in all of the following circumstances, unless the resident objects:
- End-of-life situations.
- A resident who was living with family before being admitted to the ALF is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support.
- The resident is making one or more major medical decisions.
- A resident is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.
- A resident needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.
- A resident who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.
Safety-related policies and procedures
- may not be more stringent than those established for the provider’s staff and
- may not require visitors to submit proof of any vaccination or immunization.
- Providers may not require an essential caregiver to provide necessary care to a resident.
(d) The policies and procedures may require a visitor to agree in writing to follow the provider’s policies and procedures.
(e) The providers shall provide their visitation policies and procedures to the agency when applying for initial licensure, licensure renewal, or change of ownership. The provider must make the visitation policies and procedures available to the agency for review at any time, upon request.