After Year Of Fighting Covid-19, Nursing Homes See Hope In Relaxed Visitation Rules

After a difficult spring and an even more difficult fall, long-term care facility administrators were thrilled to see their vulnerable populations among the first offered COVID-19 vaccines in December. By the end of February, nearly every resident and staff was inoculated against the virus.It meant fewer cases, fewer deaths from the coronavirus — and, maybe most importantly, allowing residents to see their loved ones in person.The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released new recommendations on Wednesday, revising its previous stance and allowing indoor visits “for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident or visitor.”Certain scenarios still would limit visits, such as a high positivity rate for the county, but the new guidance was a long-awaited move after a year of separation between older Iowans and their loved ones.