Another COVID-19 Testing Option: Enroll in CDC’s Free COVID-19 Testing Program
CDC Revises COVID-19 Guidance
Argentum Infection Prevention & Control Announcements
SB-61 Alzheimer’s & Dementia Training – Here’s Where We Are
CHFS Surveillance COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs
Conference & Education Planning Committee
What Are Your Questions About SB-11?
CHFS Surveillance COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs
The Kentucky Senior Living Association Announces the Promotion of Rebecca Pfalzgraf to Executive Director
1st & 3rd Tuesday Virtual Roundtable Discussions Suspended Until September 20
Category Archives: Members Only News
Another COVID-19 Testing Option: Enroll in CDC's Free COVID-19 Testing Program
The CDC Operation Expanded Testing (OpET) program provides access to free COVID-19 PCR tests for assisted living residents and staff, through December 31, 2022. The program provides specimen collection supplies, shipping materials, laboratory testing, and results reporting, and providers may receive up to a four-week supply at a time.
Providers must enroll through the OpET screening testing program for their respective hub. Kentucky's hub can be found by clicking Here.
Be sure to read the FAQs to learn how the program works. The FAQs refer to schools in a few places and don't mention long-term care. However, the program is designed for other "congregate settings" which include assisted living facility residents and staff.
CDC Revises COVID-19 Guidance
The CDC has issued revised COVID-19 guidance to include recommendations for testing, isolation, and other mitigation strategies.
The agency still recommends testing in high-risk settings, to include long-term care facilities, irrespective of vaccination status. Additionally, individuals who are symptomatic or have a known or suspected exposure should test.
Isolation Guidance
- Anyone who is symptomatic or tests positive should isolate for five or more days, wear a mask, and avoid contact with high-risk individuals.
- Individuals may stop isolating after five days if no symptoms develop or if symptoms are improving and have not had a fever for 24-hours.
- In addition, the guidance also states that “Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.”
It also recommends continuing to wear a mask through day 10 or after two sequential negative tests 48-hours apart.
Argentum Infection Prevention & Control Announcements
Infection prevention and control is one of the most important aspects of senior living. As our population ages, the risk of infection increases, so it is important to have systems in place that protect our residents from illnesses and keep them healthy.
Argentum has announced that they're expanding the COVID-19 blog to include some of the latest research, news and advances in infection prevention and control. Click the link below to read more.
SB-61 Alzheimer's & Dementia Training - Here's Where We Are
We've received several questions over the past week about the Alzheimer's & Dementia training requirements set forth in SB-61. Here are some clarifications:
- All current staff who provide care to individuals who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias must have completed six hours of training no later than last Thursday, July 14, 2022.
- As of July 14, 2022, new hires must complete six hours of training within their first 60 days of employment AND prior to providing care to residents who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
- After the initial six hours of training, the requirement is three hours of Alzheimer's or dementia-specific training each year thereafter.
- The Office of Dementia Services will approve all training plans. The contact person for this is Jennifer Craig, and she can be reached at Craig@KY.gov. Facilities should submit their training plans to Jennifer.
- While awaiting approval from Jennifer, facilities are free to use current Alzheimer's and dementia training programs for direct care staff.
Click on the links below to see:
DAIL's 2nd REVISED Dementia Curriculum Review Implementation ALC Memo
Application for Dementia Curriculum Review
Pre-approved dementia training list 5.16.2022
If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org or 502.938.5102 or Jennifer Craig, Office of Dementia Services (@DAIL) at Jennifer.Craig@KY.gov.
CHFS Surveillance COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs
FAQs Updated as of June 28, 2022, and salient points follow:
Beginning July 1, 2022, CHFS-contracting clinical labs will provide the following:
- Antigen Test Kits for ongoing surveillance test administration by the provider, and
- PCR testing to detect the presence of COVID-19 infections for
-
- Any eligible person with a positive antigen test result, or
- Any eligible person with a physician's order for a PCR test (following CDC-approved guidance).
To see an updated list of participating laboratories, Click Here and scroll down to the bottom left-hand side of the page to "List of participating labs: Beginning July 1, 2022." These clinical laboratories are eligible for reimbursement by CHFS until the federal funding for this program expires. There is no charge to residents for these tests.
Providers will continue reporting positive results only to KHIE or NHSN, the tested individual, and the selected participating clinical lab in the same fashion as for the first half of 2022.
This program is not mandatory for assisted living facilities or personal care homes, but is available, voluntary and strongly encouraged.
For additional information about the testing program, contact Carrie Anglin, Carrie.Anglin@ky.gov or 502-385-1712.
Conference & Education Planning Committee
The KSLA Conference & Education Planning Committee meets 1-2 times per year to plan the annual conference and workshops to be held throughout the year. If you have ideas and would like to serve on this team, please let Rebecca know at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org. The next meeting of this committee will be held in September. Thanks!
What Are Your Questions About SB-11?
Even though we have a ways to go before SB-11 goes into effect, the work to write the regulations to modernize assisted living in Kentucky will be beginning soon. We'd like to share your questions with those who will be at the table working on writing those regulations.
Please be specific, and send your questions to Rebecca at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org
CHFS Surveillance COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs
FAQs Updated as of June 28, 2022, and salient points follow:
Beginning July 1, 2022, CHFS-contracting clinical labs will provide the following:
- Antigen Test Kits for ongoing surveillance test administration by the provider, and
- PCR testing to detect the presence of COVID-19 infections for
-
- Any eligible person with a positive antigen test result, or
- Any eligible person with a physician's order for a PCR test (following CDC-approved guidance).
To see an updated list of participating laboratories, Click Here and scroll down to the bottom left-hand side of the page to "List of participating labs: Beginning July 1, 2022." These clinical laboratories are eligible for reimbursement by CHFS until the federal funding for this program expires. There is no charge to residents for these tests.
Note to KSLA Associate Members - current clinical laboratories who desire to participate are invited to submit applications for consideration to CHFS.
Providers will continue reporting positive results only to KHIE or NHSN, the tested individual, and the selected participating clinical lab in the same fashion as for the first half of 2022.
This program is not mandatory for assisted living facilities or personal care homes, but is available, voluntary and strongly encouraged.
For additional information about the testing program, contact Carrie Anglin, Carrie.Anglin@ky.gov or 502-385-1712.
The Kentucky Senior Living Association Announces the Promotion of Rebecca Pfalzgraf to Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Senior Living Association (KSLA) is excited to announce the promotion of Rebecca Pfalzgraf from Director of Communications and Member Services to Executive Director. Rebecca has been with KSLA for more than four years. In her time with KSLA, she has provided top-notch support to the KSLA leadership and members in several areas including organizational management, communications, event planning, and member advocacy.
Rebecca brings over 30 years of customer relations experience and 20 years of organizational management experience to her new position, the last 4+ years being with KSLA. Each year during her time at KSLA, she has taken on a larger role in the planning and execution of the KSLA annual conferences under the direction of Bob White, former Executive Director, now retired.
In her new role, and in addition to her current responsibilities, Rebecca will be responsible for the management of all KSLA daily operations; technical and advocacy support of KSLA members; providing educational opportunities to KSLA members; growing the KSLA membership; and collaborating with industry leaders and representatives from state agencies including working to promulgate regulations related to the recently passed SB-11 legislation.
Rebecca’s first day in her new position was July 1, 2022.
1st & 3rd Tuesday Virtual Roundtable Discussions Suspended Until September 20
Summer is upon us, and with it comes vacations for KSLA and its members. And, the work to promulgate regulations related to SB-11 should be beginning, and ongoing, for several months.
With all that in mind, we've decided to cancel the regularly scheduled 1st & 3rd Roundtable Discussions, now through September 20th.
However, we're still here and available to assist you. Contact us any time at KSLA@KentuckySeniorLiving.org, 502-938-5102, or by clicking the "Contact Us" button at the top or bottom of this eBlast.
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