COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities

CMS and CDC Guidance for Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have issued and revised guidance and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Limitation on Visitation Affects Residents

Consumer Voice supports safe visitation including vaccination for all long-term care residents and visitors to long-term care facilities and adhering to the Core Principles of Infection Prevention including mask wearing.

Despite the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations, the precipitous decline of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes, and the relaxation of some visitation restrictions, residents and families continue to face limitations on visitation and daily activities.  In January 2021 and again in June 2021, Consumer Voice released reports detailing the devastating effects of limiting visitation on nursing home residents.

Consumer Voice Resources for Advocacy & Families

• Spending Time with Loved Ones During the Holidays
• Nursing Home Visitation and Quarantine: Advocacy Strategies for Families
• Reuniting Residents and Families: What to Look for and Questions to Ask as You Resume Visits in a Long-Term Care Facility
• Family Advocacy for Nursing Home Residents During COVID-19
• Family Councils and Advocacy During COVID-19

Infection Prevention Resources

• Tips for Facility Visits During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
• Tips for Communication While Wearing a Mask

Part of being a good advocate is taking care of yourself, read our fact sheets for tips on how family caregivers and residents can take care of themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Taking Care of You: Tips for the Family Caregiver
• Taking Care of You: Tips for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities

Listen to the Stories of Residents