The Arizona Department of Health Services has approved and released guidelines for in-person visitation in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Rules differ depending on each facility’s implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and the surrounding community’s spread of COVID-19.
Dana Marie Kennedy is the state director of AARP. She pushed Gov. Doug Ducey to form the special task force behind the guidelines. And says she never thought they would be coming on six months without in-person visitation.
“People are dying of loneliness and isolation. And people with some form of dementia, they may not even understand why their loved one is not visiting them. And families didn't get enough notice to really be able to have that closure," Kennedy said.
However, families will still be able to visit loved ones that are facing end-of life or terminal diseases. These are referred to as compassionate care visits, where if certain guidelines are met, including a negative COVID-19 test taken less than 48 hours ago, a limited indoor visit will be permitted, regardless of that community’s COVID-19 transference levels.
