leadingage
new york
TOGETHER
I Want to Visit My Mother!
Restricted visitation over the last six months has residents and families needing to
reconnect, but visits may look different once they resume.
In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to explode, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) directed all nursing homes
to restrict family visitation in order to control the spread of infection. Various alternatives
to maintain family contact such as Zoom or Skype were introduced as a substitute, and
although this has helped maintain a connection, it does not offer the same closeness and
physical contact of an actual visit. Six months later, while some community businesses
including service and retail establishments are reopening, nursing homes are still unable to
offer families and residents the ability to enjoy face-to-face visits.
When this will change is hard to say. Recently, CMS has offered a series of
recommendations for nursing homes to follow toward reopening. The reopening
recommendations provide a three-phase approach. In Phases 1 and 2, visitation is still
restricted except for end-of-life and compassionate care situations. Moving through the
different phases and loosening restrictions in areas like communal dining and activities is
dependent on several factors such as testing, the supply of personal protective equipment
and case status within the local community.
It is not until Phase 3 that visitation
restrictions are lifted to allow for the
resumption of family visits. However, even
at that time, visitors must be screened for
fever and signs of respiratory symptoms,
wear face coverings and maintain social
distancing.
Additionally, ProCare staff have assisted some members in
developing infection control policies and procedures and
preparing for focused Infection Control surveys by DOH.
While some might see some of these measures as overly restrictive, the risk for infection
among vulnerable nursing home residents remains high. Nursing homes experienced a high
(See I want to Visit My Mother on page 9)
8 Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Summer 2020