As more and more COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed to nursing homes throughout Maryland, residents are hopeful that the pandemic is coming to an end. They are also hopeful that increased visitations will begin to occur in nursing home facilities.
Current status in Maryland:
Facilities that have decided to reopen and meet certain requirements, visitors may schedule outdoor visits during specified hours. Indoor visits are still limited to compassionate care situations. Visitors and residents must wear masks and practice physical distancing. Get the latest status updates from AARP’s nursing home tracking app here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that nursing homes only allow indoor visitors if the facility has had no COVID-19 cases for the previous 14 days. Some other recommendations to ensure continued safety for residents include:
- Experts recommend waiting until two weeks after your loved one gets the second dose of the vaccine before visiting.
- It is also recommended to make sure that all of the residents and staff have been vaccinated.
- Visitors should also consider getting vaccinated prior to visiting.
- The CDC still recommends wearing a mask when visiting regardless of vaccination status.
- If possible, get tested prior to a visit to a nursing home.
- Continue to maintain 6 feet of social distance when possible.
- If the weather is nice, consider having your visit outdoors if the resident can physically handle the transition.
At Stouffer Legal, we care about our seniors. We know that it has been a tough year for nursing home residents. While we hope that the vaccinations offer more opportunities for in-person visits, it is important to follow the advice of healthcare experts to keep our seniors safe. For information on Elder Law issues, contact the experienced attorneys at Stouffer Legal in the Greater Baltimore area. You can schedule an appointment by calling (443) 470-3599or emailing us at office@stoufflerlegal.com.
