Overview of COVID 19 Safe Visits
June 23, 2020
To our valued Clients and Dear Seniors!
Nothing beats our regular One on One Visits with optional outings with a Friend! With current times and in the interest of keeping our Seniors and our Friends safe, we have had to make some modifications. New visit types that are designed to work together to bring about much needed social connection and mental wellness. As things change, we will continue to adjust in the safest ways for all involved.
Introducing 3 Alternative Visit Types During Pandemic Restrictions
In these uncertain times we all know it is important to keep your loved one socially connected and uplifted the way we best know how. A Friend Indeed is excited to offer:
Social Distancing Visits,
Virtual Visits, and
Friendly Phone Calls to do just that!
To our valued Clients and Dear Seniors!
Nothing beats our regular One on One Visits with optional outings with a Friend! With current times and in the interest of keeping our Seniors and our Friends safe, we have had to make some modifications. New visit types that are designed to work together to bring about much needed social connection and mental wellness. As things change, we will continue to adjust in the safest ways for all involved.
Introducing 3 Alternative Visit Types During Pandemic Restrictions
In these uncertain times we all know it is important to keep your loved one socially connected and uplifted the way we best know how. A Friend Indeed is excited to offer:
Social Distancing Visits,
Virtual Visits, and
Friendly Phone Calls to do just that!
Social Distancing Visits
This is one step closer in mimicking our regular One on One Visits. A chance for your loved one and their Friend to be together again, face to face yet staying safe! How wonderful to have the company for your loved one and having time to yourself?
Social Distancing visits are in person but at a distance or with a barrier (ie: window or sliding door) between the Senior and their Friend. The Friend will need to rely on the family member residing with the Senior if the Senior needs support in getting to and from the visit location and ensure they are set up for comfort from the elements. If a Senior resides on their own and no such additional support person is available, the Senior must be able to accomplish these on their own without assistance from the Friend.
During a visit, if the Senior is in need of unexpected support, (ie: in the event that the Senior is unable to open a door due to weather/wind, is having unexpected trouble with stairs, or some other challenge that was unforeseeable), the Friend will wear a mask, use hand sanitizer before entering Senior’s personal space to support. The Friend will not enter the Senior’s home unless only in an emergency and will do so with mask and hand sanitizer used beforehand. Friend will wipe down any surface that was touched. Friend will wipe down any surface that was touched with sanitizer wipe provided by Senior.
During the visit, the Friend may not* use a mask but keep their distance of the recommended 6 feet or more.
The Senior, along with anyone else who resides in the home, and the Friend will remain at least 6 feet apart at all times. Prior to the visit, it is helpful to discuss the on-site location of the visit, and what means of comfort for both parties by way of seating, protection against the weather, etc. will be provided. Friend will bring their own chair.
To avoid sharing items, both the Senior and the Friend are responsible for providing their own beverages and individualized food items if they are desired. Having said that, arrangements can be made ahead of time for the Friend to pick up individual beverages or treats to bring to the visit. There are some limitations to what can be brought –depending on the ability to refrain from touching the items or ability to sanitize the items. (ie: instead of an ice cream cone, a wrapped ice cream treat can be wiped with a sanitizing cloth.)
Also, the Friend is able to pick up a few items from a store or drive thru on behalf of Senior. Items will be wiped with sanitizer cloth or left in bag for cleaning by family member. Some restrictions may apply. Social Distancing Visits are 2 hr minimum.
*Please speak with Robyn directly with any concerns or questions you have regarding masks. Friends will follow all protocols that Care Facilities set out.
This is one step closer in mimicking our regular One on One Visits. A chance for your loved one and their Friend to be together again, face to face yet staying safe! How wonderful to have the company for your loved one and having time to yourself?
Social Distancing visits are in person but at a distance or with a barrier (ie: window or sliding door) between the Senior and their Friend. The Friend will need to rely on the family member residing with the Senior if the Senior needs support in getting to and from the visit location and ensure they are set up for comfort from the elements. If a Senior resides on their own and no such additional support person is available, the Senior must be able to accomplish these on their own without assistance from the Friend.
During a visit, if the Senior is in need of unexpected support, (ie: in the event that the Senior is unable to open a door due to weather/wind, is having unexpected trouble with stairs, or some other challenge that was unforeseeable), the Friend will wear a mask, use hand sanitizer before entering Senior’s personal space to support. The Friend will not enter the Senior’s home unless only in an emergency and will do so with mask and hand sanitizer used beforehand. Friend will wipe down any surface that was touched. Friend will wipe down any surface that was touched with sanitizer wipe provided by Senior.
During the visit, the Friend may not* use a mask but keep their distance of the recommended 6 feet or more.
The Senior, along with anyone else who resides in the home, and the Friend will remain at least 6 feet apart at all times. Prior to the visit, it is helpful to discuss the on-site location of the visit, and what means of comfort for both parties by way of seating, protection against the weather, etc. will be provided. Friend will bring their own chair.
To avoid sharing items, both the Senior and the Friend are responsible for providing their own beverages and individualized food items if they are desired. Having said that, arrangements can be made ahead of time for the Friend to pick up individual beverages or treats to bring to the visit. There are some limitations to what can be brought –depending on the ability to refrain from touching the items or ability to sanitize the items. (ie: instead of an ice cream cone, a wrapped ice cream treat can be wiped with a sanitizing cloth.)
Also, the Friend is able to pick up a few items from a store or drive thru on behalf of Senior. Items will be wiped with sanitizer cloth or left in bag for cleaning by family member. Some restrictions may apply. Social Distancing Visits are 2 hr minimum.
*Please speak with Robyn directly with any concerns or questions you have regarding masks. Friends will follow all protocols that Care Facilities set out.
Virtual Visits
Virtual Visits give both your loved one and their Friend the opportunity for greater connection through the inclusion of live interaction. Being able to see one another’s facial expressions along with lively conversation simulates an in-person visit. Giving your loved one access to explore interests, revisit meaningful places, etc online with their Friend, makes for new adventures each time. It is amazing to hear long time memories from such personalized experiences.
Adding to the experience of a Real-Time visit, is by making it multi-sensory! Your loved one and their Friend enjoying a coffee and snack together during the visit!
Please note, your loved one will need access to a device with internet and camera as well as someone (either family member or facility staff) to set up or receive the conference call and troubleshoot if needed. Some facilities have scheduled times for Virtual Visits.
No one likes to wait for sites to load which is why the Friend prepares for the online visit ahead of time. Ideas of activities, topics to discuss and explore together, making the visits that much more special. AFI asks that family provide some key details of the Senior’s life. Our creative processes will bring those details into online experiences for the Senior and Friend to enjoy. Valued time together with their Friend while you can use your time for yourself. Length of Virtual Visits are in 15 minute increments. (IE: 15, 30, 45min, etc)
Virtual Visits give both your loved one and their Friend the opportunity for greater connection through the inclusion of live interaction. Being able to see one another’s facial expressions along with lively conversation simulates an in-person visit. Giving your loved one access to explore interests, revisit meaningful places, etc online with their Friend, makes for new adventures each time. It is amazing to hear long time memories from such personalized experiences.
Adding to the experience of a Real-Time visit, is by making it multi-sensory! Your loved one and their Friend enjoying a coffee and snack together during the visit!
Please note, your loved one will need access to a device with internet and camera as well as someone (either family member or facility staff) to set up or receive the conference call and troubleshoot if needed. Some facilities have scheduled times for Virtual Visits.
No one likes to wait for sites to load which is why the Friend prepares for the online visit ahead of time. Ideas of activities, topics to discuss and explore together, making the visits that much more special. AFI asks that family provide some key details of the Senior’s life. Our creative processes will bring those details into online experiences for the Senior and Friend to enjoy. Valued time together with their Friend while you can use your time for yourself. Length of Virtual Visits are in 15 minute increments. (IE: 15, 30, 45min, etc)
Friendly Phone Calls
Think about how you feel when you hear from an old Friend? Our Friendly Phone Calls are just that! A chance to catch up, to escape for a while into conversation, to share in a familiar laugh, to be a listening ear as we get through this unique time together.
Friendly Phone Calls are telephone calls from the Friend to the Senior on prearranged day(s) and time(s). Phone calls are an easy form of friendly social connection with their Friend. Length of calls are in 15 minute increments. (IE: 15, 30, 45min, etc)
Think about how you feel when you hear from an old Friend? Our Friendly Phone Calls are just that! A chance to catch up, to escape for a while into conversation, to share in a familiar laugh, to be a listening ear as we get through this unique time together.
Friendly Phone Calls are telephone calls from the Friend to the Senior on prearranged day(s) and time(s). Phone calls are an easy form of friendly social connection with their Friend. Length of calls are in 15 minute increments. (IE: 15, 30, 45min, etc)
How this all works
- As usual, visit hours are purchased by the month. If you have a credit, it can be used right away. Determine ahead of time the number of hours needed for the month. Over the course of the month, the visits will occur.
- As usual, a visit summary will be sent after every visit interaction to keep you up to date on how the visits are going, what your loved one and their Friend are doing, and to keep track of the visit time completed. Time not used during the month will be carried forward as a credit.
- Friendly Phone Calls and Virtual Visits will be invoiced in 15 min increments and are prorated to our regular rate. Social Distancing Visits are still the standard 2 hour minimum due to the Friend traveling.
- The usual mileage rate will be applied for requests where the Friend is picking up individual beverages, treats for the Senior or requests for items from the store on behalf of the Senior. Time for travel for shopping/errands requests will be part of the visit time. Purchases for the Senior will be added to invoice for reimbursement, unless otherwise arranged.
- Sanitizer wipes must be provided by the Client or Senior for wiping purchases such as wrapped treats, beverage containers or other items that the Friend picks up on behalf of the Senior for the visit. If sanitizer wipes are not available, a charge of $5 will be added to the invoice to cover costs. Otherwise, let the Friend know ahead of time if sanitizer wipes need to be purchased along with the other items.
- Outings with Seniors will not be available at this time. Please speak with Robyn directly for details on this.
New Scheduling Options for Greater Connection
All Visits Same Price
- Initially the Friend will reach out for a quick communication to either the family contact (who is coordinating on behalf of Senior) or to the Senior directly, to secure an individualized mix of visit frequency, time(s) and types. Visits can be a usual schedule of same day/time week to week or more be more frequent. Please read the following examples to help explain. Note that visits are dependent on the availability of the Friend.
- Example #1: Client (or Senior) and Friend decide that every [Tuesday] at [1-3pm] a visit will be scheduled. The visits are intended to be (Social Distancing Visits at the Senior’s backyard patio and the Friend can bring by the favorite treat from the drive-thru). Should weather not cooperate, the back up plan is to keep the visit time but change the Type to Virtual Visit (if applicable) or a Friendly Phone Call. In addition, the Senior would like regular Friendly Phone Calls on Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm to help break up the long afternoons.
- Example #2: The Friend will reach out weekly to either the family contact or Senior to ask “What would you like this week?” Being able to quickly set up the upcoming week’s visit(s) and interactions at mutually agreed upon frequency of days, time(s) and types of visits. Picking up items are paired with Social Distancing Visits only. Back up plans will be decided as well.
All Visits Same Price
- We take pride in investing our time and energy in preparing for and creating the best experiences for our Seniors. We bring that same commitment to all types of visits not just the ones we attend in person but also to our Friendly Phone Calls and Virtual Visits. This is why all visit types are prorated to the same hourly rate. Note: Any client who had previously paid Out of Town rates will be changed to regular rate for all visits that do not require travel from a Friend living out of town.