Today, Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater), Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, held a committee hearing to discuss the next steps for seniors and reopening nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As we approach the one year anniversary of COVID-related restrictions, many seniors are still reeling from separation from families and loved ones.
“We are at a new, very important juncture in this COVID journey—one at which the vast majority of our seniors in nursing homes will soon be vaccinated, and we are finally able to see the light,” said Senator Housley. “MDH has said they are waiting for federal guidance relating to nursing homes, but even so, we need to start planning now. We’ve already seen the results of lack of planning when it came to vaccine distributes. We need to learn from that process and start planning for safe reunification now, which is why I wanted to bring together the Department of Health and long-term care industry leaders so we can hear their perspectives, challenges, and plans for next steps.”
The Minnesota Department of Health released the Minnesota Home Care Provider/Assisted Living Visitation and Activities Guidance packet. This guidance indicated that if there were no new COVID-19 case in staff or residents, indoor visitation can be accommodated. However, the number of visitors per resident is still limited, and movement within the facility is also restricted.
CDC recommendations have also shared “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.” Included in the document was an update that it is okay for fully vaccinated in the community can now visit with their families in different scenarios. Nursing home settings are currently regulated at the federal level and assisted living facilities are regulated at the state level.
While waiting for further federal guidance for dealing with vaccinated seniors in these facilities, Senator Housley pushed the Minnesota Department of Health and Commissioner Jan Malcolm to take any steps she could immediately to make common sense regulatory changes within assisted living settings that could move toward reuniting families.
“I have been heartbroken over the stories of seniors who have been isolated, confused, angry, and sad that they have been separated from their loved ones for a full year,” continued Senator Housley. “Seniors and their families are asking questions, and they deserve to know what’s next for them.”
After today’s hearing of Housley’s Committee, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released updated nursing home visitation guidance that included screening of all who enter the facility for signs of COVID-19, and denial of entry of those with signs or symptoms, or those who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the prior 14 days, regardless of the visitor’s vaccination status. Compassionate care visits will now be allowed at all times.