Visitation policy changing at Dahl

A recent drop in county-wide COVID-19 positivity rate has led Dahl Memorial to change their visitation policy. The policy now allows family and friends who are over the age of 10 to visit at one of two different time slots. A letter from Dahl Memorial CEO explaining the policy follows:

“At DMHA, the health and safety of our residents is of utmost importance. With the current drop in our county COVID-19 positivity rate, we are changing our visitation policy, to allow for family visitation, and expanding the visitation to friends. We ask that you not visit if you are ill as this creates a risk for our entire staff and residents.

• There will be 2 time slots a day that a visit can be scheduled Monday thru Friday. Please call 406-775-8730 to schedule a visit. Times that are available:

•10:00 am

•2:30 pm

• The visit will have a maximum time limit of 1 hour.

• Maximum number of visitors will be 2. Please, no children under 10.

• The entrance that will be used is the old Public Health door on the southeast corner of the building. You will need to call when you arrive so that a staff member may let you in the door.

• Upon arrival you will be asked if you have any symptoms of COVID -19 illness or have been around anyone who has tested positive for COVID in the last 14 days.

• You will be taken to the visitation room where further instructions will be given to you.

• Expectations are to sanitize your hands upon arrival and wear a mask.

• Current guidance is to remain 6 feet away from your loved one — with everyone in the room wearing a mask.

• You will only be allowed in the visitation room. There will be a way of notifying staff when you are ready to leave the room upon completion of your visit so you can exit the building without going out of the room to get a nurse.

• If you become ill within 48 hours after you visit please notify the nursing staff so that we can watch for any changes in the health of your family member.

Visitors who do not follow the above guidance for infection prevention will not be permitted to visit or will be asked to leave.

We encourage you to review the CDC website for information about COVID-19, including its symptoms, how it spreads, and actions you can take to protect your health: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Thank you very much for everything you are doing to keep our residents and facility staff safe and healthy. We continue to closely monitor the situation in our community.

Please contact us with additional questions at 406-775-8730.

Thank you,

Ryan Tooke, CEO.”