INDIANAPOLIS — As the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to rise in Indiana, some concerned citizens contacted WRTV Investigates asking why the state is continuing to allow visitation of our state’s most vulnerable people inside long-term care facilities.
More than 60% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred at Indiana nursing homes, even though its residents make up a small percentage of the state’s positive cases.
1,753 nursing home residents have died as well as 11 nursing home staff members.
The state allowed facilities to resume indoor visits as of July 4, if certain facility and community conditions exist.
However, the state’s positivity rate has climbed over the summer and some are concerned about the health and safety of their loved ones inside long-term care facilities.
“Shouldn’t we be unfortunately saying no outdoor visitation at long term facilities, till we get there numbers down?” one viewer wrote to WRTV. “To your knowledge has there been any discussion of revisiting visitation in long term facilities, since the state set a record of positive cases in my county.”
WRTV Investigates reached out to the Indiana State Department of Health, which said they are in constant communication with long-term care facility associations and sharing best practices.
“We believe visitation can safely occur with mask wearing and social distancing to the benefit of the residents and their families,” said Megan Wade-Taxter, a spokeswoman for ISDH in an email to WRTV. “We have issued guidelines for indoor visits that include all visitors passing a symptom screening and temperature check, washing their hands or using an alcohol-based hand rub upon arriving at the facility, wearing a mask at all times while visiting and maintaining at least six feet distance from all residents in the facility.”
The state announced in June plans to soon allow outdoor visitation at some nursing homes, depending on the COVID-19 situation in the community and facility.
Outdoor visitation is now required in facilities without a new facility-onset COVID-19 case within the last 14 days, if certain facility and community conditions exist and as weather permits.
Indiana Family and Social Services Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Rusyniak acknowledged the damaging effects no visitation policies have had on residents’ physical and emotional health.
"We recognize that this is not a final solution,” Rusyniak said in June. “We recognize that not everyone in a long-term care facility can be visited at this time. This is just a first step.”
According to the state’s guidance, as of July 17, facilities are required to do four hours per day of visitation, including evening hours, if there has not been a new facility-onset COVID-19 case in 14 days.
Other requirements include:
- There have been no new facility-onset COVID-19 resident cases in the past fourteen (14) days.
- Visitation is limited to COVID-negative or COVID-recovered residents, as defined by the resident meeting the CDC’s guidance for discontinuation of transmission-based precautions.
- The facility has proper PPE for residents, staff, and visitors, although visitors are encouraged to bring their own masks to help conserve facility supplies.
- The facility notifies residents and their representatives of its intention to resume visitation, outlining the guidelines below.
