Adult Day Services Safe Operations FAQs
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Stephanie McCloud signed an order June 1, 2021, rescinding the Third Amended Director's Order on the Opening of Older Adult Day Services Centers health order. This frequently asked questions (FAQ) document was created to help answer questions center administrators, staff, participants, or families may have about the reopening process for senior centers. These FAQs may be updated from time-to-time as strategies and processes evolve. These FAQs are not intended to be inclusive of all potential scenarios presented by the reopening effort.
Public Health Order and General Operations
1. What is the authority being used to implement this Order?
Under Ohio Revised Code 3701.13 the Director of Health can create special public health orders.
2. Are centers required to reopen pursuant to the Order?
Centers are permitted, but not required to reopen. The State strongly encourages centers to safely reopen.
General Participation Requirements
1. What facial covering requirements do centers need to follow?
Centers are encouraged to follow the mask guidance set forth in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance for Adult Day Services Centers.
2. What are the current requirements for congregate activities and transportation?
Guidance for Adult Day Services Centers issued by CDC regarding congregate activities, dining and communal activities, postponing activities if social distancing is not feasible, prioritizing outdoor activities over indoor activities, and transportation is encouraged to be followed.
3. Are centers legally permitted to require vaccination of participants or proof of vaccination?
Requiring vaccinations is a local business decision. Centers should use their best judgment to keep staff and participants safe. Whether or not a private business is subject to laws or regulations affecting their ability to require proof of vaccination is a center-specific matter. Centers should work with independent legal counsel to develop and implement a center-specific plan for complying with all state and federal laws and regulations.
Testing
1. What are the testing requirements for adult day services centers?
While not required, adult day centers are encouraged to routinely test unvaccinated staff and participants. Unvaccinated refers to a person who does not fit the definition of fully vaccinated, including people whose vaccination status is not known.
Centers are encouraged to have a strategy in place to test staff and participants, with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or known exposure to the virus immediately, regardless of vaccination status. Examples of a strategy could include, but not be limited to, arrangements with a local health department, federally qualified health center, R3AP, or other trusted entity to provide testing. A map of testing sites, including private companies and community health centers, can be found online at Testing and Community Health Centers.
2. Are centers still required to report results of testing efforts to the State?
Yes, centers are still expected to report all testing results to the State. All questions in the reporting tool must be fully and accurately completed within the reporting period, including execution of an attestation that policies and procedures have been developed to implement and monitor resident and staff COVID-19 testing. Centers shall maintain individual-level COVID-19 test results.
3. What is fully vaccinated?
Fully vaccinated refers to a person who is ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine, per the CDC Public Health Recommendations for Vaccinated Persons.
4. What is unvaccinated?
Unvaccinated refers to a person who does not fit the definition of fully vaccinated, including people whose vaccination status is not known.
5. Do COVID-19 tests need to be ordered by a medical professional?
Yes, COVID-19 tests for screening and diagnostic purposes must be ordered by a physician or other appropriate health care professional acting under his or her scope of practice.
6. Is documentation of staff or participant consent required for testing?
Centers should follow their standard consent procedures for both staff and participants. Please note, participants may decline testing. A legal representative with the appropriate scope of authority may also decline testing for a participant if the participant is unable to consent to or decline the testing.
7. If staff or participants test positive for COVID-19, will the center be required to undergo contact tracing?
Yes, if staff or participants test positive within the center, the center should work proactively with the local health department to coordinate contact tracing as soon as possible.
8. Who is responsible for payment of testing?
At this time, state-supported testing is being offered at no cost to centers. If centers choose to coordinate their own testing, each center is responsible for all costs of testing.
State Support
1. If centers need assistance with testing or vaccines, can the State assist?
Yes, if centers have any vaccination needs, they should reach out to the Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R3AP), which can offer on-site vaccination clinics for staff, participants, and community members through June 30, 2021. Center administrators should call 1-855-R3AP-ODA or 1-855-732-7632 to schedule a vaccine clinic, request personal protective equipment, or inquire about free infection prevention and control consultations. Ongoing COVID-19 testing support is also available by contacting COVIDTesting@age.ohio.gov.
2. What state-supported diagnostic RT-PCR testing options are available?
MAKO Medical Laboratories, LLC is the state-supported testing partner for adult day services centers. Please contact MAKO Medical Laboratories, LLC to initiate enrollment.
3. What state-supported Rapid Point-of-Care (POC) Antigen Testing options are available?
Abbott BinaxNOW is the state-supported option for rapid point of care antigen testing. Information about the test can be found at:
