EP32: Nursing Homes and Families During COVID

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nursing Homes and Families During COVID</span></em></p> <p><strong><em>“If the nursing home would allow one advocate, one compassionate care person, and let them visit their family members, that would be very helpful to them.”</em></strong><strong>— Nettie Batchelor</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Skilled nursing homes are currently facing unique challenges with coronavirus. Previously, we talked about the role of social workers in nursing homes and mental health. In this week's episode, we're going to have a heart-to-heart conversation with my Mom, Nettie Batchelor. We're going to share her story about the impact of the visitation restrictions she’s faced with my grandmother, Grandma Trudie, who lives in a nursing home.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Part One of ‘Nursing Homes and Families During COVID’</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Grandma Trudie went to the nursing facility, it was hard for her to leave her home and accept the fact that she needed 24/7 care; care that had to be provided in a skilled nursing home. Thankfully, the staff who work in her facility treat her very well. She began to even think of it as home. My Mom used to see her two or three times a week. The last time my Mom saw her face-t0-face was March 4th, 2020 - that was the last time she was able to sit beside her for a visit or give her a hug. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Visitation guidelines issued by CMS and its federal partners have issued directives and guidance regarding visitation during the pandemic in multiple documents that have made it challenging for nursing homes to meet (and CMS to enforce) federal expectations or leverage evolving flexibility with states re-opening at different paces.</span></p> <p><strong><em>“The longer this pandemic takes, the more bad outcomes we're going to see.” — Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN </em></strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Visitation Res