Finger Pointing! Just Stop Already!

There are many different policies at nursing homes and assisted living all throughout this pandemic and continue today. All should have visiting at all times, but some families can’t visit on weekends or holidays still.

Here is how it goes when familes want answers……

• The facilities blame CDC, CMS and State

• The State blames CDC and CMS

Who truly has final say? The State and ODH according to the CDC

Here is a part of an email Elderly Advocates recevied from the CDC. It clearly states they give Guidelines only to guide the state. CMS does the same unless it is a mandate such as visiting must happen or facility will be cited.

The finger pointing ends at the State and ODH, utlimately they deceide which guidelines they will follow.

Portion of email:

CDCInfo <cdcinfo@cdcinquiry.onmicrosoft.com> 8:20 AM (13

hours ago)

to me

Thank you for contacting CDC-INFO.

We hope you find the following information about long-term care facilities visitation during

COVID-19 helpful.

CDC recognizes the physical and emotional toll of visitation restrictions on residents of long-

term care facilities and their loved ones. State and local health departments decide how long-

term care facility visitation and other guidelines are implemented within their jurisdictions. To

assist state health departments and facilities with these decisions, CDC and the Centers for

Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised guidance for visitation to long-term care facilities

on March 10, 2021.

The revised visitation guidance recommends that facilities should allow responsible indoor

visitation at all times and for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident, or

visitor, unless certain scenarios arise that would limit visitation (for example, residents with

confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met the

criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions).