Outdoor visits at Martin Luther Campus

We are delighted to share that Martin Luther Campus has started offering outdoor visits to residents and their families.

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic has meant we are closely monitoring the physical health of residents and putting all recommended infection control protocols in place to ensure their safety. While our commitment to health and safety continues, we are also incredibly cognizant of the need to support the emotional and social health of our residents. Outdoor visits are a direct and impactful activity to nurture and support the social needs of residents.

Visits began on Campus the week of June 29 and are going very well. Outdoor family visits are truly energizing and have brought so much joy to our residents and staff already. We've hosted reunions for spouses, parents/children, siblings, grandparents/grandkids/granddogs...and they have all been so meaningful! There have even been birthday and wedding anniversary mini-celebrations!

You can view a few photos from recent visits on our Facebook page at: https://bit.ly/38jWOrL and https://bit.ly/3eSDfZY 

While we are enjoying and celebrating this time, we are also following the visiting guidelines put forth by the Minnesota Department of Health closely. In fact, here is a framework of these guidelines as recently shared with residents and families:

Outdoor Visits Process
Outdoor visits are available:

• Meadow Woods: Monday – Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm and Thursday from 2:00-7:00pm
• Care Center: Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm

This timing is based staff availability in conjunction with the other duties staff have to care for residents each day. We are doing our very best accommodate as many visits as possible. Please note, you will have to make an appointment for this visit in advance. Due to the volume of visits, we will not be able to accommodate walk-up visit requests at this time.

What to expect:

• When you arrive, please check in at the front door. A staff member facilitating your visit will meet you there and provide a symptom check outside the building with a temperature check and paper screening and agreement forms. Any visitors with COVID related symptoms (fever, shortness of breath, cough, etc.) will not be permitted to visit.

• Once cleared for a visit, the staff member will then direct you to the visiting area outside the building. Visitors will not be able to access the building during the visit. Please plan ahead for needs to use a restroom, drinking fountain, etc.

• Please bring your own mask and to wear your mask for the entire visit. Research shows that masks are proven to reduce the spread of this virus, and we need to follow masking procedures very carefully. You will be asked to sanitize your hands before and after the visit with the sanitizer provided.
• The visit will be up to 20 minutes in length. There will be a staff member present for the entire visit to provide guidance and to help with any needs during the visit. We will do our best to monitor from a distance and be respectful of your need for privacy.
• We ask that you not physically touch your loved one during the meeting. We certainly know how hard it is to be with someone so special and not be able to show affection with a hug or kiss. Again, refraining from touching is critical for everyone’s safety. Thank you.
• If children under 12 will be visiting with an adult, please ensure they remain in the visiting area and help them to understand the 'no touching' rule as well as the need for a 6-foot distance for safety purposes.
• If you are bringing a pet, the pet must be managed closely by the visiting adult for the entire visit.
• We kindly request that you not bring food or beverages for the visit. The reason for this policy is that masks need to be worn while you’re together and eating or drinking requires the removal of face protection. We understand the weather can be hot during this season, and we will offer hydration to residents before and after their visit.
  
  

Other considerations:

• We will permit one outdoor visit per week per resident initially. This will ensure each resident has a fair opportunity for an outdoor visit. If there is
  additional time available in a week, we will look at additional visits for interested families after everyone has been offered the opportunity.
• There will be some residents who are not a candidate for an outdoor visit based on individual needs and safety concerns. Staff will share any concerns at the time of a family's inquiry for a visit. Martin Luther Campus does reserve the right to not conduct an outdoor visit in the name of safety. If that is the case, we will work with family to find another workable option like a window visit or video call.
• As we all know, this is a fluid time. There is always a chance that we will need to modify and/or suspend this process at any time for the safety of all based on current COVID status. For instance, if we had a new positive case on one unit, that unit would have to suspend visits for 7 days.
• Visits will occur as weather permits.
• Please do your best to be on time for your scheduled date and time. A late arrival may result in a shortened visit. If the agreed upon time is missed, we cannot guarantee that there will be time to reschedule that same week. Thank you.

• While we do not have a limit on the number of family members to join the visit, all must be able to safely sit 6 feet from your loved one and each other. For large families, consider dividing into smaller groups and coming over a couple of weeks. This will allow each person to have a meaningful conversation with your loved one. There will be two visitor chairs available for visitors. If you need additional chairs, please plan to being them with you.
  
  

How to schedule an outdoor visit:
​If you are interested in exploring an outdoor visit or have additional questions, please contact the following staff members:

• Meadow Woods – Activities Director, Heidi at 952-948-5165 or [email protected]
• Martin Luther Care Center – Active Living Director, Amy at 952-698-3990 or [email protected]
  
  

As we begin this offering and other reopening conversations, we remain cautiously optimistic. We do, of course, need to stay the course with hand washing, masking and social distancing practices to control the spread of this virus, and we thank you for your commitment to adhering to all best practices we have shared, and continue to share, for the safety of our residents and staff as well as their families.