Nebraska program to open door for nursing home visits
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Residents of Nebraska's long-term care facilities could soon get in-person visits from relatives or friends under a new program designed to help them during the pandemic, state officials said Friday.
The essential caregivers program will allow volunteers to go into nursing homes and other care facilities once they've been trained how to properly don and doff protective clothing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The program was created as a workaround to restrictions that have kept most visitors out of Nebraska's long-term care facilities since March. Gov. Pete Ricketts and other officials warned that facilities which choose to participate may not be opening their doors right away.
“They're going to have to implement it, and that may take time," Ricketts said at a news conference.
The pandemic has had a disproportionately large impact on nursing homes, as the elderly are especially vulnerable to severe reactions to the virus. As of Sept. 20, nursing homes had accounted for more than 40% of all of Nebraska's coronavirus deaths.
Nebraska's program was modeled after one in Minnesota, said Jennifer Acierno, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, an advocacy group for the elderly. Florida, South Dakota and Indiana have similar programs intended to ease the social isolation that many residents have faced.
“Isolation has taken a toll on long term care residents physically, mentally and emotionally," Acierno said.
The volunteers could also help ease the workload on a facility's regular staff members, said Becky Wisell, an administrator with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She said they'll be able to advocate on a resident's behalf and bring problems to the attention of staff members.
They'll also likely assist with simple tasks,...