Nursing Home/Memory Care Visitation & COVID

MCaretaker30

For those with loved ones in a memory care unit or nursing home, are you allowed to visit everyday? Are there still strict rules? Any ease of restrictions for family members that are vaccinated? Thanks in advance for any insight.

TammyCA

Now that the vaccine has been administered to virtually all residents at my mom's assisted living/memory care facility, they have allowed unlimited visitation for those who are also vaccinated and those who take a weekly COVID test. Masks in the facility are still mandatory.

MN Chickadee

The director at our place is waiting on his higher ups to make something official which hasn't happened yet. They still have rules about the length and frequency of visits and and health screening questions. However I have noticed they have relaxed a lot for those of us they know are vaccinated (one family member per resident  was able to get vaccinated as "essential caregivers" right on site with our PWD.) The director eluded to perhaps something officially more lax for those who have been vaccinated but I haven't heard anything definite. Their third and last vaccine clinic is coming up to give second dose to any stragglers, so my hope is after this they will announce new rules. I'll respond if and when they do.

MCaretaker30

That's great to hear, Tammy.

MCaretaker30

Hopefully it becomes less restrictive after they are vaccinated. It makes sense, at least. Thanks Chickadee.

Deanna_M

Hi- don't get me started!!

I am in New York State and will finally be allowed to visit my mother for 30 minutes this upcoming Saturday after no visitations since early November. It will be in a common area, with social distancing in place (no hugging). 

After that, I will be allowed to visit her 30 minutes every other week, provided that there are no new positive cases among staff and residents. (I should mention that staff compliance for vaccines is at 60% in my mom's facility..I am sure that some have very valid reasons for not getting the vaccine, but this is frustrating considering I am not allowed any where near my mom, yet they are)

My mother has declined substantially over the past couple of months, according to her caregivers. I am going to see if I can start to push compassionate care or essential caregiver status. I don't know if it will work, but I've gotta try.

MCaretaker30

Wow, that's insane and I'm so sorry to hear. We're getting an assessment for memory care this week for my mom who has been on hospice at home for the past month. If there are going to be restrictions like that, I don't think we will be able to do it. If one of my family members isn't going to be able to visit mostly everyday, we may just need to keep her home for the time being...

Cynbar

My DH was in a facility recently for short term rehab. He has had both vaccinations, as have I. When he was admitted, visitation was allowed although with some restrictions (in a common area, no physical contact.) Soon after, a couple staff members tested positive and visitation was totally shut down again. It was really hard on him to have no contact with family except phone calls. Luckily, he did well with his physical therapy and is now home. For any of you considering admission of your LO to a facility, please remember that this could happen to you. I don't think we are at the point of life returning to normal just yet.

Deanna_M

Visitation restrictions vary from one state to another. And, I think that facilities have their own policies within the state restrictions. 

So, it is definitely worth finding out what the restrictions are and what they have been as you are considering whether or not to move your mom into a MC facility. If visits are very limited right now and you are able to continue caring for your mom at home, it might be a good idea to hold off on placement until things lift a bit more. But, if you are so stretched that you cannot keep her safe and cared for at home, you may need to place her sooner. I know of several families that have had to do that.

Emily 123

I‘m vaccinated and in VA.

  I moved my Mom into AL/MC on the AL side a month ago so that she could get her vaccines in-house. She’s just completed dose # 2 last week.

I can call to schedule a face to face visit in the public area of the facility (we sit on a sofa). Usually there’s time slots open every day. Masks for visitors, temp check and questions. Hoping that we can start in room visits soon.  They have been taking residents out in the van to ‘sight see’, which is great! No easing yet for vaccinated family members, but definitely not panicking if a resident unmasks. I can’t imagine how hard THAT’S been with this population- like herding cats I bet!