Families of Ohio nursing home residents are being urged to refrain from a common practice this time of year: taking their loved one home for a holiday celebration.
But that is not being allowed this year due to the potential spread of COVID-19.
Residents should not leave because of the pandemic, said Pete Van Runkle, spokesman for nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the Ohio Health Care Association.
“That’s really a good way to get exposed and then potentially expose everyone else in the building," Van Runkle said.
The better option is to schedule a compassionate care visit inside the facility, he said. But he admits that might not be possible if COVID-19 is prevalent in the building. Other safe options include phone calls, visual conferencing or visiting through a window from the outside.
Copyright 2020 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.
