The Road Back: COVID-19 Resources for Congregate Settings

Ohio is on the ROAD BACK and now is the time to evolve our practices as the COVID-19 pandemic enters the next phase. Below are resources to support nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult day services with new requirements for visitation, testing, vaccination, and service delivery.
Nursing Homes
Visitation
- Director’s Order Rescinding Various Orders effective June 18, 2021
- CMS Memo QSO-20-39-NH: Visitation Guidance
- CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes
- CDC Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 Care Center:
A streamlined portal for facility testing and vaccine needs
Vaccines
- Every Shot Counts Flier
- Vaccine Maintenance Program Booster Update (September 9, 2021)
- CDC National Healthcare Safety Network LTCF COVID-19 Module
- Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Maintenance Program
- Staff and resident vaccine education resources
- Ohio Department of Aging vaccine education roundtable
- Long-Term Care Facilities COVID-19 Vaccination resources from CDC
- AHRQ: A Guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs
- Vaccine education toolkit for facility administrators
Testing
As of Jan. 13, 2022, we have been informed by the test manufacturer that there has been an additional three-month extension of the expiration dates of Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests. These tests may be used effective immediately. Further extensions of the expiration dates are not expected, so it is critical that tests be utilized ahead of tests with expiration dates much later in 2022.
Letter from FDA re: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Expiration Update
- Director’s Amended Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Nursing Homes (May 4, 2021)
- CMS Memo QSO-20-38-NH: Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements for Staff and Residents
- COVID-19 Care Center: a streamlined portal for facility testing and vaccine needs
Resources
- Mounting Our Defense: Vaccines and Therapeutics - February 2022 Webinar Slides
- Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Guide
- COVID-19 Treatment Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
- Nov. 18, 2021 webinar: Holiday Planning
- Facility support for testing, vaccination, and more from the Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP)
- June 2021 webinars
- COVID-19 Safety Posters
- Staying Connected Booklet
- Ohio Department of Health posters and signs
- Road Back toolkit: printable resources for your facility
- Signs
- Table tents
- Handouts
- COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Rates: Tips From Facilities That Achieved 90 – 100 Percent (AAPACN)
- Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Exposure to COVID-19 Checklist (LeaderStat)
- Tips for Reducing the Stress of Getting Back to 'Normal' (LeaderStat)
- Invest in Trust: A guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs (AHRQ)
Assisted Living Facilities
Visitation
- Director’s Order Rescinding Various Orders effective June 18, 2021
- Ohio quick-reference visitation guidance for assisted living facilities June 2021
- CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes
- CDC Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 Care Center:
A streamlined portal for facility testing and vaccine needs
Vaccines
- Every Shot Counts Flier
- Vaccine Maintenance Program Booster Update (September 9, 2021)
- CDC National Healthcare Safety Network LTCF COVID-19 Module
- Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Maintenance Program
- Staff and resident vaccine education resources
- Ohio Department of Aging vaccine education roundtable
- Long-Term Care Facilities COVID-19 Vaccination resources from CDC
- AHRQ: A Guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs
- Vaccine education toolkit for facility administrators
Testing
As of Jan. 13, 2022, we have been informed by the test manufacturer that there has been an additional three-month extension of the expiration dates of Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests. These tests may be used effective immediately. Further extensions of the expiration dates are not expected, so it is critical that tests be utilized ahead of tests with expiration dates much later in 2022.
Letter from FDA re: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Expiration Update
- Director’s Amended Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Residential Care Facilities (May 4, 2021)
- COVID-19 Care Center: a streamlined portal for facility testing and vaccine needs
Resources
- Mounting Our Defense: Vaccines and Therapeutics - February 2022 Webinar Slides
- Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Guide
- COVID-19 Treatment Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
- Nov. 18, 2021 webinar: Holiday Planning
- Facility support for testing, vaccination, and more from the Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP)
- June 2021 webinars
- COVID-19 Safety Posters
- Staying Connected Booklet
- Ohio Department of Health posters and signs
- Road Back toolkit: printable resources for your facility
- Signs
- Table tents
- Handouts
- COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Rates: Tips From Facilities That Achieved 90 – 100 Percent (AAPACN)
- Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Exposure to COVID-19 Checklist (LeaderStat)
- Tips for Reducing the Stress of Getting Back to 'Normal' (LeaderStat)
- Invest in Trust: A guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs (AHRQ)
Adult Day Services
Operations
- Director’s Order Rescinding Various Orders June 2, 2021
- CDC guidance for adult day services
- Adult Day Services Safe Operations FAQs
Vaccines & Testing
- Contact the Ohio Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP) to learn more about hosting vaccine clinics for staff and participants
- Testing in congregate settings
Resources
- Facility support for testing, vaccination, and more from the Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP)
- Coronavirus Relief Funds: Adult Day Service and Senior Center Provider Relief - Nutrition Support
- June 2021 webinars
- COVID-19 Safety Posters
- Staying Connected Booklet
- Ohio Department of Health posters and signs
- Road Back toolkit: printable resources for your facility
- Signs
- Table tents
- Handouts
- COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Rates: Tips From Facilities That Achieved 90 – 100 Percent (AAPACN)
- Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Exposure to COVID-19 Checklist (LeaderStat)
- Tips for Reducing the Stress of Getting Back to 'Normal' (LeaderStat)
- Invest in Trust: A guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs (AHRQ)
Senior Centers
Operations
- Rescission of Order (June 1, 2021)
- Third Amended Director's Order on the Opening of Senior Centers (May 4, 2021)
- CDC guidance for community-based organizations
- Senior Center Safe Operations FAQs
Vaccines & Testing
- Contact the Ohio Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP) to learn more about hosting vaccine clinics for staff and participants
- Testing in congregate settings
Resources
- Facility support for testing, vaccination, and more from the Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP)
- Coronavirus Relief Funds: Adult Day Service and Senior Center Provider Relief - Nutrition Support
- June 2021 webinars
- COVID-19 Safety Posters
- Staying Connected Booklet
- Road Back toolkit: printable resources for your facility
- Tip sheets for center directors
- Signs
- Table tents
- Handouts