Visits to Wisconsin nursing homes should be limited to ‘essential’ care, state says.
Facility residents face higher risks from virus
In an effort to protect nursing home residents from coronavirus, family visits to the facilities should be largely limited to “end of life situations or when a visitor is essential for the resident’s emotional well-being and care,” according to state guidelines issued late Friday.
The recommendations are for longterm care and assisted-living facilities.
“Older and medically vulnerable adults have significantly increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID19, necessitating that we take all reasonable efforts to prevent introduction of this infectious disease into residential care facilities,” Division of Public Health Administrator Jeanne Ayers wrote in the four-page memo.
The guidelines were sent to local and tribal health care officers, health care providers and long-term and assistedliving facilities statewide.
Other recommendations by Ayer include screening all visitors to the facilities including health care workers, consultants and family members; banning visitors who show symptoms of coronavirus; making hygiene supplies such as masks, tissues and hand sanitizer available; and not allowing employees who show “signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection” to work.
If an employee shows symptoms of a respiratory infection while on the job, the person should “immediately stop work, put on a face mask and self-isolate at home,” Ayers wrote, adding that the local health department should be notified.
Ayers also called for “robust screening” of everybody who enters a longterm or assisted living facility. “Logs documenting the dates and time of screening evaluation” should be kept, she advised.
The facilities should have a designated employee entrance, she said.
The guidelines were issued a few hours after public health officials reported 11 cases of the coronavirus in Wisconsin. Those case brought the state’s total to 19.
The limitations are similar to those that have been in place in other states. Numerous nursing homes and assisted care facilities in Wisconsin previously limited or banned visitors as the coronavirus cases were popping up throughout the state.
Ayers said facility employees should explain the policy to family members. Family members should also be told how they may be able to visit residents remotely by using video services such as FaceTime or Skype.