Long-Term Care Communities Holiday Guidance
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Recently, the state’s Department of Aging and Disability Services and its Department of Public Health teamed to issue advice to those of you who are contemplating the health concerns and challenges of spending time this holiday season with loved ones who are residents long-term care communities. Here is some of the information and helpful links the departments have provided.
As many of you plan for your holiday gatherings, we feel it is important to highlight the current guidance and review the potential risks so that you can make an informed decision. The federal government has directed that nursing homes that are free of positive COVID-19 cases for the previous 14 days be open for in-person visitation with residents. However, our state is currently experiencing higher community-based transmission levels of COVID-19 and this could increase the risk that in-person visitation poses to residents and staff.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Department of Public Health recognize this is an incredibly difficult time for long-term care residents and family. Throughout this pandemic our long-term care residents have been the most impacted both by the virus and the restrictions necessary to prevent further spread of the virus. Connecticut’s long-term care residents remain a priority and our state health officials would like to offer the following considerations when planning celebrations with loved ones who live in long-term care communities.
Examples of ways you can celebrate with your loved one:
Low risk: Celebrate virtually with your loved one using methods such as Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Google Duo. You can also drop off a meal for them to enjoy.
Low-medium risk: Visit your loved one at their residence. Bring a favorite Thanksgiving food or a holiday treat that meet individualized needs while, following safety guidelines including mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. The risk level of a visit to the facility or residence depends on the number of visitors and the potential exposure to COVID-19 that any of the visitors may have had.
Medium-high risk: Bring your loved one home to celebrate with just your household, following safety guidelines including mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing, and frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces. For two weeks prior to your holiday gatherings, limit exposure to COVID19 by avoiding indoor settings with people you don’t live with where you cannot socially distance or wear a mask (e.g., indoor social events, restaurants, carpooling). Before removing your loved one, you should understand that they may need to quarantine for 14 days upon their return.
Very high risk: Bring your loved one home to celebrate with multiple households, and/or not following social distancing, handwashing, cleaning, or mask guidance.
Many people living in congregate settings are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19 and may have health conditions putting them at a higher risk of becoming sick, or even severely ill, with COVID-19. When deciding whether to include your loved one in a holiday gathering, or visiting your loved one in their home, it is important to take into account their health and safety, as well as the health and safety of your loved one’s roommates, other people living on their floor or in their home, and the staff that care for them.
Helpful resources
Centers for Medicaid Services: Holiday Guidance
Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): Thanksgiving Guidance
Connecticut Long-Term Care Ombudsman If you didn’t know, the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman can be a good resource during this difficult time.
On the web: https://portal.ct.gov/LTCOP By phone: 1-866-388-1888
The ombudsman hosts a Facebook live event Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., and to participate or ask questions visit its page @CTLTCOP
State of Connecticut: Safe Holiday Guidance In response to increasing COVID-19 transmission levels, the state's Department of Public Health released its own safe holiday guidance. Check out that document here, and officials say you can reduce the risk of getting or spreading the virus by:- Conducting pre-party screening for COVID symptoms;
- Wearing a mask whenever possible and having them available for guests, along with hand sanitizer;
- Keeping the guest list small;
- Using disposable items; and
- Maintaining social distancing whenever possible or keeping visits short when social distancing cannot be maintained.