New guidelines for visiting long term care residents plan to give families connection at a needed time

Long term care facilities have provided people the ability to stay connected with their older loved-ones while maintaining peace of mind about their relatives’ well-being. 

With the ongoing public health crisis that is COVID-19 and its dire implications for older populations, visiting at long term care facilities has and will continue to change. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued guidelines for what are considered to be the safest kinds of interactions -- outdoor and window-separated visits. 

To prevent outbreaks of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable demographic of Minnesotans, MDH recommends that visits be scheduled in advance, adequate, alcohol-based, cleaning be done before said visits take place, that guests are screened for symptoms outside buildings, that masks and facial coverings are worn by all participants and that visitation spaces support social distancing of at least six feet. 

To view additional criteria for visiting residents of long term care facilities, visit www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/hcp/ltcoutdoor.pdf.