Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is implementing new federal guidelines that lift the ban on nursing home visits. State Director of the Louisiana AARP Denise Bottcher says new guidance from the feds allows nursing homes to conduct outdoor visitation with social distancing.
“As long as they follow all of the infection protocols and procedures that have already been outlined by CMS, it’s just welcomed news for Louisiana families,” said Bottcher.
In addition to outdoor visits, nursing homes in parishes with no more than 10 percent test positivity and without any new onset of COVID cases in the last 14 days can allow indoor visitation.
When the pandemic arrived in Louisiana, nursing homes and long-term care facilities closed their doors to visitors. Bottcher says the inability to visit in person has been a difficult period for families when phone calls and virtual visits have been the only option.
“We’ve heard from several families who have watched the mental decline of their loved one over this time period so this gives some families some great news and I know they’ll be anxious to see their loved one in person,” said Bottcher.
Botcher says visitors will be required to wear face coverings, wash their hands, and social distance.
“And there will be some limitations on how people the residence can have at one time,” said Bottcher.
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