The No Patient Left Alone Act (Senate Bill 988), was created to guarantee Florida families the fundamental right to visit their loved ones who are receiving care in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (long-term care facilities). No healthcare facility in Florida may require a vaccine as a condition of visitation and every healthcare facility must allow their residents and patients to be hugged by their loved ones.

To comply with most recent Fla. Stat. § 408.823, the following visitation policies and procedures are established for the visitors of our residents allowing in-person visitation in all of the following circumstances, unless the resident, client, or patient objects:

1. End-of-life situations.

2. A resident, client, or patient who was living with family before being admitted to the facility is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support.

3. The resident, client, or patient is making one or more major medical decisions.

4. A resident, client, or patient is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the loss of a friend or family member who recently died.

5. A resident, client, or patient needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink which was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.

6. A resident, client, or patient who used to talk and interact with others is seldom speaking.

Additionally, the bill allows a resident, client, or patient the option to designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver. We will allow an in-person visitation by the essential caregiver for at least two hours daily in addition to any other visitation authorized by the facility.

A resident, client, or patient may designate a visitor who is a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an essential caregiver. The facility allows in-person visitation by the essential caregiver for at least 2 hours daily in addition to any other visitation authorized by the facility.

In compliance with Fla. Stat. § 429.28, the facility does not restrict private communication of its residents, including receiving and sending unopened correspondence, access to a telephone, and visiting with any person of their choice, at any time between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at a minimum. Upon request, the facility will make provisions to extend visiting hours for caregivers and out-of-town guests, and in other similar situations.