RI Nursing Home Visitations Set To Resume Wednesday

PROVIDENCE, RI — More than three months after nursing home visitations were prohibited due to the coronavirus health emergency, the state will allow those visitations starting Wednesday, with strict infection control measures.

The RI Department of Health said all facilities must provide visitation plans to the state for approval prior to allowing visitations.

The are several guidelines and restrictions on visitations.

Visits will be limited to only those essential to the resident's physical and emotional well-being and care, must be scheduled in advance and will be limited to 30 minutes.

Everyone coming to a nursing home will be screened for coronavirus symptoms and facilities must keep a log of all visitors.

While outdoor visits are preferred, indoor visits may occur in the resident's room or in a specially designated area of the nursing home. Only one visitor will be allowed in a resident's room at a time.

Visitors must stay at least 6 feet away from staff and residents at all times, must wear a cloth face covering and must wash their hands or use sanitizer when entering the home, the outside visitation area or before entering a resident's room.

While the state has provided guidelines for visitations and a standard plan, each home's guidelines may vary slightly due to its particular setup or needs.

For more information on the plan go here.

More RI Coronavirus Coverage: RI Seeks To Rebuild Nursing Home Infrastructure

RI Nursing Homes Prepare For Phase 3 Visitation