Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities FAQs

Encourage residents and staff to take everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. Actions include staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning and then disinfecting frequently touched surfaces; and washing hands often with soap and water.

Administrators should take the following actions to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in their community or facility:

• Promote social distancing
  • Cancel public or group activities and events
  • Inform workers and volunteers to avoid close contact with residents
  • When possible, limit visitors and volunteers to essential persons
  • Advise residents to stay home and avoid public places
  • Alter schedules to reduce mixing (e.g., stagger meal, activity, arrival/departure times)
• Support residents in preparing
  • Establish the ‘buddy’ system to ensure residents stay connected.
  • Encourage residents to have extra medications and supplies.
  • Identify residents with unique needs and work with them to tailor these strategies.
  • Find ways to support residents in managing stress and anxiety.
  • Inform residents using print materials and high-visibility posters
• Encourage everyone to take everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Ensure hand hygiene supplies (e.g., hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) are readily available in all buildings.
• Monitor for cases and take action when someone is sick.
  • Screen workers and when possible volunteers
  • Ask residents to self-monitor for symptoms
  • Review the usual absenteeism patterns at your facility among staff, so you can identify if the rate of absenteeism increases.
  • Implement flexible sick-leave policies and actively encourage sick employees to stay home
  • Coordinate with local health facilities if you suspect a resident or staff member may have COVID-19

Share resources with the community to help them understand COVID-19 and steps they can take to protect themselves:

• CDC COVID-19 business guidance
• CDC COVID-19 healthcare guidance
• CDC COVID-19 household guidance
• CDC Make a Kit
• CDC’s health communication resources
• CDC offers several free handwashing resources that include health promotion materials and information on proper handwashing technique.

Clean high-touch surfaces and objects regularly (for example, daily or after each use) and after you have visitors in your home. Focus on high- touch surfaces and objects (doorknobs, tables, light switches, phones, remote controls and countertops) with cleaners that you typically use. Practice strict infection control procedures if there is a case in your facility.

Follow CDC’s Cleaning Recommendations for Communities.

Ask residents to actively monitor (at least daily) for COVID-19 symptoms, including fever and respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, new or change in cough). Administrators should work with local health authorities to establish procedures for those who become sick. Sick residents should avoid contact with individuals who are healthy. If you think someone may have COVID-19, ask them to self-isolate and you should contact local health officials.

Work with local health authorities to communicate the possible exposure to residents, staff, and visitors. Clean and disinfect all shared facilities and high-touch surfaces. Limit visitors to essential staff  and visitors. Staff and, when possible, visitors should be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 before entering the facility. Residents will need to actively monitor their health for COVID-19 symptoms. Cancel group activities. Residences that become ill should be advised to call the medical facility in advance of their visit. See CDC’s full interim guidance for more details.