Concerned About Your Loved Ones Living in Nursing Homes?

 

We live in scary times, with rules and guidelines concerning the coronavirus pandemic changing practically every day. This is especially true for nursing homes, where there’s a greater risk of complications for residents who get COVID-19. Because older people are more vulnerable to this disease, and because many circumstances make nursing homes potential breeding grounds for viral infections, nursing homes have had to limit visitors and isolate their residents.

If you have loved ones living in a nursing home, you may be experiencing a lot of concern and anxiety for their well-being. This can be more upsetting if you’re unable to see them in any way due to travel limitations or bans on visitors. You may not know how you can support your loved one in a nursing home or what rights they have. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the rights you and your loved ones have during this time of COVID-19.

Residents’ Rights in Long-Term Care Facilities

Your loved one has certain rights as a resident of a long-term care facility. These include, but are not limited to, receiving proper medical care; being free from neglect, abuse, and discrimination; participating in activities; having a family member, legal representative, or doctor informed of changes in treatment or condition; being treated with respect and dignity; the ability to make complaints without fear of repercussions; and having family and friends visit and participate in care.

Your state may also dictate more rights beyond what the CMS protects on the federal level. Even though your loved one has a right to visitation, this is being temporarily restricted for the greater well-being of all residents and staff in these facilities.

Visitation Rights for Nursing Homes

As of the writing of this article, just over 30 states and Washington DC are allowing visitors at nursing homes with strict rules to protect everyone inside, including face coverings, sanitizing, and social distancing.

Ultimately, local and state authorities are responsible for how and when visitation can resume. Some states are requiring or recommending that nursing home visits take place outside, where the risk of spreading the coronavirus is considerably lower.

In the 20 or so states that do not allow nursing home visits yet, the long-term care facilities are still in lockdown, with only essential staff and vendors allowed inside. Some are making exceptions for “end-of-life” visits, also known as “compassionate care situations,” in which immediate family members can visit a resident who is close to death.

You can check AARP’s guide on nursing home visitation in the US to see whether your state allows visitation.

Transparency Requirements for Nursing Homes About COVID-19

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires nursing homes to tell residents and their families (or representatives) of a positive coronavirus case on-site within 12 hours of its confirmation. They are also required to report any cases to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Not every state is making the names of nursing homes with confirmed cases public.

“Click Here To Read the Full Post”