By Tabby Fitzgerald

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—As COVID-19 spread last year, nursing homes restricted visitation for their residents. While more than 184,000 residents and staff of nursing homes and long-term care facilities died throughout the country, loved ones and caregivers were only allowed to see their family members through windows or on a phone call.

In order to keep seniors safe, they weren’t allowed to step foot in the building—which carried its own set of consequences.

During the 2021 session, Senate Bill 202 regarding hospital and health facility visitation was signed into law. The bill allows a person admitted as a patient to a hospital or ambulatory outpatient surgical center or facility during a declared emergency or public health emergency to receive visitation by specified individuals. It was co-authored by Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Sen. Jean Leising,  R-Oldenburg.

Leising also authored Senate Bill 229 on nursing home visitation, which would allow family caregivers to visit their loved ones despite restrictions. Although this bill did not become a law, Leising does not see a need to refile it in the next session because of Senate Bill 202.

“Her hope in filing SB 229 and when co-authoring SEA 202 was that Hoosiers would have the support they need when it’s needed most,” said Jesse Cordray, Leising’s press secretary.

If you took a look at nursing homes today versus a year ago, you would see two very different places. A year ago, there was no face-to-face contact between caregivers and their loved ones. But today, visitation requirements are more relaxed.

As the pandemic continued this past year, people had to get creative on the activities that were taking place in facilities. Most activities took place on a one-on-one basis; families could plan a car parade and wave to their loved ones, or residents could sit in their doorways and play hallway bingo with other residents while still following CDC guidelines.

“The camaraderie and the connection with family and friends is so vital to all of us,” said Indiana Health Care Association spokesperson Zach Cattell. “It’s especially important for those who are residents in long-term care facilities.”

According to the Consumer Voice, an advocacy group representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, 91% of families that participated in a survey reported that their loved one’s demeanor or mental status had declined during the period of isolation.

Within the last year, Indiana became the first state in the nation to embrace the Essential Family Caregiver Program on a voluntary basis. This program has recently been officially established and allows individuals who had been providing care to their loved ones prior to their admission to a nursing facility to receive special status to continue that care.

FOOTNOTE: Tabby Fitzgerald is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

The City-County Observer posted this article without editing or bias.