LPS HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS | POLICY & PROCEDURE

VISITATION POLICY
Florida Assisted Living Facilities

Policy No.: LPS-ALF-VC-001
Effective Date: November 5, 2026
Applies To: LPS-managed Florida ALFs
Review Cycle: At least annually / upon legal change
Responsible Party: Administrator / Executive Director or designee
Authority: F.S. 408.823; F.S. 429.28

1. PURPOSE
To establish a resident-centered visitation policy for LPS-managed assisted living facilities in Florida that protects residents’ rights to in-person visitation while maintaining reasonable infection prevention and safety practices consistent with Florida law.

2. POLICY
LPS Healthcare Solutions supports meaningful, in-person visitation and recognizes visitation as an important component of resident well-being, autonomy, family connection, and quality of life. Residents will be permitted to receive visitors of their choice in accordance with Florida law, resident preference, privacy rights, and reasonable facility safety practices.

Core visitation standard: Residents may visit with a person of their choice at least between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Facilities will make reasonable provisions to extend visiting hours for caregivers, out-of-town guests, end-of-life circumstances, and other similar situations.

3. GENERAL VISITATION HOURS AND ACCESS
• Routine visitation is available at a minimum from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days per week.
• Visitation outside routine hours will be accommodated when reasonably requested for caregivers, out-of-town guests, end-of-life situations, or other similar circumstances.
• A resident may receive visitors of the resident’s choice unless the resident objects, requests restrictions, or visitation would infringe on the rights, privacy, or safety of another resident.
• Consensual physical contact between a resident and visitor is permitted.
• The facility will not require a visitor to provide proof of vaccination or immunization as a condition of visitation.
• Safety-related visitor requirements will not be more stringent than comparable requirements imposed on facility staff.

4. ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER VISITATION
A resident may designate a family member, friend, guardian, or other individual as an Essential Caregiver. The designation does not require the individual to provide hands-on care, and the facility may not require an Essential Caregiver to provide necessary care as a condition of visitation.
• The designated Essential Caregiver will be allowed in-person visitation for at least two (2) hours daily, in addition to other visitation otherwise authorized by the facility.
• The resident or resident representative may change the Essential Caregiver designation consistent with resident rights and applicable facility procedures.
• Essential Caregiver visitation remains subject to reasonable infection-control and safety practices that comply with Florida law.

5. REQUIRED IN-PERSON VISITATION CIRCUMSTANCES
Unless the resident objects, the facility will allow in-person visitation when any of the following applies:
1. The resident is in an end-of-life situation.
2. The resident lived with family before admission and is struggling with the change in environment and lack of in-person family support.
3. The resident is making one or more major medical decisions.
4. The resident is experiencing emotional distress or grieving the recent death of a friend or family member.
5. The resident needs cueing or encouragement to eat or drink that was previously provided by a family member or caregiver.
6. A resident who previously talked and interacted with others is seldom speaking.

6. INFECTION PREVENTION AND VISITOR EDUCATION
The facility will use infection-prevention practices that are reasonable, evidence-informed, and no more stringent for visitors than comparable requirements applicable to staff. Practices may be adjusted based on current public-health conditions and resident-specific clinical needs.
• Visitors will be provided education on hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when indicated, and applicable facility infection-control practices.
• When screening is clinically or operationally appropriate, visitors may be asked about symptoms or exposure consistent with the same general safety approach used for staff. Screening may not be used to impose a vaccination requirement.
• Visitors with symptoms of a potentially communicable illness may be asked to take reasonable precautions, postpone non-urgent visitation, use PPE, or visit in an alternate setting when appropriate. Required visitation circumstances and resident rights will continue to be honored to the greatest extent possible.
• Hand hygiene supplies and PPE will be made available as appropriate to the circumstances.

7. VISITOR CONDUCT AND PRIVACY
• Visitors must respect resident privacy, confidentiality, dignity, and the rights of other residents.
• Visitors must follow reasonable facility safety, infection-control, emergency, and security procedures communicated to them.
• Visitors may be asked to sign or acknowledge the visitation policy and agree to comply with facility procedures.
• The facility may suspend in-person visitation by a specific visitor who violates the policy or creates a material safety risk. Any restriction should be individualized, documented, and limited to what is reasonably necessary.
• A resident retains the right to decline, limit, or terminate a visit at any time.

8. STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
The facility Administrator / Executive Director, or designated responsible person, is responsible for ensuring staff understand and comply with this policy. Staff will:
• Honor resident visitation choices and required visitation circumstances.
• Provide visitor education and any required PPE or infection-control instructions.
• Avoid blanket restrictions that conflict with state law.
• Document individualized visitation restrictions, suspensions, or exceptions when they occur.
• Escalate unresolved visitation concerns to the Administrator / Executive Director.

9. COMMUNICATION, POSTING, AND REGULATORY AVAILABILITY
• This policy will be provided to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) when required for initial licensure, license renewal, or change of ownership, and will be made available to AHCA upon request.
• If the facility maintains a website, the visitation policy will be made easily accessible from the website homepage as required by law.
• Residents and representatives will be informed of visitation rights and how to raise a concern with facility leadership. Complaints may also be reported to AHCA through its established complaint process.

10. EXCEPTIONS AND EMERGENCY CONDITIONS
During an emergency, outbreak, evacuation, security event, or other extraordinary circumstance, the facility may modify the location or manner of visitation when necessary to protect residents and staff. Any limitation will be narrowly tailored, time-limited, and consistent with state law. Required in-person visitation and Essential Caregiver access will be preserved unless a lawful, individualized restriction applies.

11. RECORDKEEPING AND REVIEW
• Maintain the current visitation policy with facility policies and procedures.
• Maintain documentation of Essential Caregiver designations according to facility practice.
• Retain documentation of visitor suspensions or individualized restrictions, including the reason and duration.
• Review this policy at least annually and whenever applicable Florida statutes, AHCA requirements, or infection-control guidance materially change.

12. REFERENCES
• Florida Statutes § 408.823 – In-person visitation.
• Florida Statutes § 429.28(1)(d) – Assisted living facility resident bill of rights; communication and visitation.
• AHCA Core Licensure Regulation Set – In-person Visitation requirements and survey guidance.