TAO artists who visit nursing homes and long-term care facilities need to protect their health and the health of others.  Please visit when you’re healthy, don’t be afraid to have friendly contact with residents, but do follow common-sense precautions.  We strongly encourage you to wash or sanitize your hands when you arrive and when you leave the building where you’re presenting your program.

Keeping residents healthy.
People in nursing homes are often weak and many have compromised immune systems.  For that reason, we ask our artists to follow a conservative policy with regard to visiting nursing homes and assisted living facilities during or after an illness.  If you have been sick with the flu, please wait until your cough has subsided before you resume visits on behalf of TAO.

Keeping yourself healthy.
Physical contact with nursing home residents, like gently shaking or holding someone’s hand, a friendly touch on the shoulder, dancing, or even a hug, can be a touching show of affection and compassion.  An enthusiastic and appreciative resident may initiate such friendliness.  Many of our artists also share paintbrushes and art supplies, song books and simple percussion instruments, and more.  According to the CDC, viruses and bacteria generally do not live for more than two hours on hard surfaces, so we don’t think there is need to worry about transferring illness from tools or instruments, as long as they are kept generally clean.  We do, however, encourage all artists and volunteers to wash their hands thoroughly upon entering and leaving the facility.  A small bottle of hand-sanitizer or wipes in your car is a Good Idea.

If you need to cancel your program due to illness, please call MaryAnn at 754-4486, as soon as possible, preferably at least the day or night before your program.  We will attempt to fill your time with another artist, if possible, and will work to reschedule your program when you are better.