How to Protect Residents in Adult Family Homes
Visiting someone in an Adult Family Home (AFH) is important for both the resident and the visitor. However, it also poses a risk of bringing illness into the home, infecting residents and staff.
Adult Family Home Visitation
Learn about how visitors can prevent the spread of infections in Adult Family Homes.
Training Resources
Please join a panel of experts from the Department of Health (DOH), Clark County Public Health and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) on October 5, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. This session will focus on crucial strategies for preventing flu and RSV outbreaks in adult family homes (AFH), along with steps to take in the event of an outbreak. Engage with our panel, ask questions, and gain valuable insights to safeguard the health of residents and staff. Adult Family Home Council members who attend the entire webinar will be eligible for 1.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credit.
Guidance Materials
AFHs can utilize the following guidance materials to help families and friends of residents become partners in infection prevention by empowering visitors with knowledge and tools to keep everyone safe.
COVID-19
COVID Testing
- To perform (administer and interpret) COVID-19 Point of Care (POC)/antigen testing and report patient-specific results, an AFH MUST obtain a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver or a Medical Testing Site Waiver (MTSW) CLIA Waiver application meeting all applicable regulatory requirements. Subsequently, all AFHs (with CLIA/MSTW Waivers) MUST report their ALL POSITIVE COVID-19 testing results to the Department of Health or their local health jurisdiction.
- CDC- Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Testing Performed in Point-of-Care Settings
- For assistance with COVID testing supplies or on-site testing support, please contact CovidTestingSupport@doh.wa.gov
COVID - 19 Fact Sheet
COVID-19 Announcement for Visitors
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Announcement for Visitors (wa.gov) (PDF)
- Spanish | Chinese | Tagalog | Russian | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
Cover Your Cough
- Cover Your Cough (PDF) Cover Your Cough Poster (PDF)
- Spanish | Chinese | Tagalog | Russian | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
Hand Hygeine
Hand Washing
Hand Sanitizer
Infection Control and Response (ICAR)
These free, non-regulatory consultations can be completed either onsite or virtually.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- DSHS Dear Provider Letter- Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 09/14/2023
- WAC 296-800-160 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Employers Must Provide PPE 296-800-16020
- Employers Must Provide training for PPE 296-800-16025
- Employers Must Require Employees to Use Appropriate PPE 206-800-16040
Department of Health PPE Resources
- DOH Infection Control Assessment Response (ICAR) Resources
- DOH Partner Toolkit
- DOH Prioritization Guidelines for Allocation of PPE
- CDC- Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Facilities During Shortages
PPE Supplies
PPE Fatigue and Complacency
PPE Signage
Quarantine
Respiratory Protection
- WA DOH- Respiratory Protection Program for Long-Term Care Facilities
- Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Safety in Adult Family Homes Toolkit (PDF)
- Aerosol Precautions (PDF)