REP. LEMAN AMONG LEGISLATORS ASKING STATE TO REALLOW NURSING HOME VISITORS
State Representative Ben Leman is one of over 50 state legislators calling upon the state to loosen restrictions on visitation at nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
In a letter Thursday to Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Interim Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson, Leman, along with 44 other members of the Texas House and ten state senators, publicly asked for a plan to be put into action to allow for limited family visits to facilities. The legislators, led by State Representative Scott Sanford of McKinney and State Senator Charles Perry of Lubbock, said these facilities can resume visits in a “safe and socially distant environment” with proper guidelines.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have not allowed visitors since mid-March in an effort to protect residents from coming into contact with COVID-19. However, the legislators argue in their letter that the consequences of not allowing visits can cause depression and anxiety in residents, potentially leading to failing physical health. They said that many residents cannot understand the lockdown status and why loved ones are not coming to visit them, adding that virtual visits can be difficult to comprehend.
The letter also asked that primary family caregivers be recognized as an “essential part of the residents’ care team”, which would allow them the ability to enter a facility like other staff members.
Leman said he is proud to join his colleagues in calling upon the HHSC to make changes to allow for direct visits to families’ loved ones.
Legislators wrote they “will not stand to let these Texans fall through the cracks”, further stating that “this disease is not what’s hurting them; it’s the harmful restrictions we have in place that are”.
My mother is in assisted living. We have not seen her since mid-March. No one likes this situation. However, we should have learned by now that it is best to reply on the advice of medical professionals rather than the opinions of politicians.
I live in Santa Clara County in San Jose, California. I agree with the letter because prior to Covid-19, I use to visit my 27 year old grandson everyday. He has a brain injury that I still do not know how it happen. All communication with him is delayed one to two minutes. The Nursing Facility is doing a great job so far keeping Covid-19 from spreading, but Tony doesn’t understand the Covid-19 and why I stopped visiting him. I’m allowed to Facetime with him, but some days he doesn’t smile and he start to cry. If I’m not allow to see him soon, I fear he may give up.
Visitation should be allowed:
Visitors could wear protective gowns, mask, gloves and face shields. Hours for visitors could be limited to one hour or less.
I hope law makers will try and understand how patients my feel.
I’ve been asking about this for weeks with the only answer being “because the state says so”! The “state” doesn’t know these people.
We were called in for an end of life visit for my mother in law on a Friday. Grandkids were allowed too. We visited Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Monday morning we got a call and she had rallied and visitation would have to stop. We truly believe that the visits brought her out of the crisis. She is one that virtual and/or window visits would not work for. Thanks for working for nursing home visits.