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Visitation Recommendations Sent to CMS

September 08, 2020

Consumer Voice worked collaboratively with advocates and State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen throughout the country on visitation recommendations which were sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Recommendations to Allow Nursing Home Residents to Have Increased In-Person Contact with Family and Friends During the COVID-19 Pandemic recommends that CMS adopt requirements allowing outdoor and indoor visitation for residents in a way that continues to keep residents safe. Visitors would be screened and follow all protocols and the number of visitors can be limited based on safety and social distancing. The recommendations also note that residents should be permitted to engage with other residents – individually or through small group activities or dining and recommends that residents who do not have visitors still have the same opportunities to leave their rooms and go outside as residents with visitors. 

In August, Initial Recommendations to Address Resident Isolation and Decline by Allowing Residents to Have Increased In-Person Contact with Family Members and Friends were also sent to CMS which recommends that residents be provided with an essential support person if they’ve experienced a significant change or decline. It also suggests stronger standards for end of life visits.

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