Some nursing homes can let visits resume

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s announcement two weeks ago that families could resume in-person visits with their loved ones in nursing homes and similar group facilities was met with a collective sigh of relief.

For five months, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had to bar such visits because of the high risk of coronavirus infection outbreaks. That left many relatives of those in such facilities fearful that the isolation could be as detrimental to their loved ones’ well-being as

the virus itself.

But with the state’s announcement came confusion. The rules and restrictions — state and local — stymied visitors and residents alike.

Some facilities’ owners said they had submitted the required forms to HHSC to start in-person visits, only to be denied by the state because of stricter local ordinances that still banned indoor or even outdoor visits.

According to HHSC, the new state provisions allowing limited visits don’t supersede local edicts, which may prohibit such visits. The city of San Antonio, for one, continued to have a no-visit rule on the books.

Consequently, family members were told, “Sorry, no visits,” even though the state had ostensibly approved them in facilities that abide by certain safety protocols.

On Wednesday, city spokeswoman Laura Mayes cleared up the confusion. The day before, Mayor Ron Nirenberg modified his existing order so visits are permissible within the state’s rules for nursing homes, assisted living centers and intermediate care facilities, such as those for people with intellectual disabilities.

Facility owners who have been unsuccessful in obtaining the state’s clearance to conduct the visits can reapply, Mayes said. According to one state official, the state will respond within three days.

Only assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities can apply for indoor visitation, provided there are plexiglass barriers, no active cases of the coronavirus among residents and no confirmed cases among staff in the last two weeks.

Visitors can talk with their loved ones, but not hug them. A host of other safety protocols — temperature screenings, masks and so on — will also be required.

Nursing homes can offer only outdoor visits, and the restrictions are tighter.

Staff must be tested weekly.

A no-visitation rule for long-term care facilities in Bexar County had expired Aug. 12. The county’s current executive order did not extend the ban, and the county is deferring to the state regarding such visits, a spokesman said.

Josie Norris / Staff photographer Visitors will be allowed on a limited basis at some nursing home and long-term care facilities after rules recently were changed.

Bob Owen / Staff photographer Linda Purcell visits her mother, Eleanor Purcell, through the window of her mother’s room at her nursing home in April.