Long-term care ombudsman sees 'glimmer of hope' with vaccine; complaints continue about visitation policies - KSTP

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"They don't understand why their family members have stopped coming to visit them. In those calls, residents [are] pleading, 'please tell us, will this end, please tell us we will not live like this forever,'" Hennen recalled. "If I seem passionate about this… this is reality, this is reality."

The long-term care ombudsman said COVID-19 visitation restrictions have revealed unfortunate consequences of the pandemic that includes isolation and separation that has affected some residents' mental and physical health.

"COVID-19 has also meant a pandemic of isolation," Hennen said.

Minnesota long-term care and assisted living facilities have been hit the hardest with deaths since the pandemic began last spring.

More Minnesotans have died in those care centers than in any other setting — 3,716 out of 5,817 reported deaths — according to Minnesota Department of Health data from Thursday.

MDH shared a visitation guide for care centers with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that is shaped in part by federal guidelines.

"Balancing COVID-19 safety and visitation restrictions with the well-being of residents in long-term care and other residential settings is an urgent priority for Minnesota," MDH officials wrote in the guide.

Care centers have been given more latitude as the pandemic continues when it comes to allowing in-person visits.

Visitation policies vary by facility, the state guide mentioned visitation can't be restricted without "a reasonable clinical or safety cause."

Hennen said with the COVID-19 vaccine being given out in long-term care settings, there's 'a glimmer of hope,' and in-person visitation restrictions should be reviewed.

"Now, with the rollout of the vaccine, we need to look at the visitation guidance that is in place, and whether or not there needs to be revisions," Hennen said.

Starting next week, the long-term care ombudsman staff will resume in-person visits to investigate complaints. The practice was suspended due to the pandemic back in the spring.

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