Now we have heard a lot about schools,
but nursing homes and assisted
living centers are also faced with
making decisions again now about
how to keep residents healthy and
their staff safe.
But The Cave you defenders found
complaints that some facilities are
not following state orders to allow
essential visits for residents.
Here's investigative reporter Terri Gruca.
About a year ago, the state issued
emergency orders for long term elder
care facilities to allow Ascential family
caregivers to visit loved ones in person
and soon it will become state law.
But we've heard from viewers who
say they can't get in to see
their loved ones tonight.
An update on your rights
when it comes to caring
for your aging parents.
Hi Daddy, the cruelty of COVID
is showing up again at assisted
living facilities and nursing
homes for seven months last year.
This was the only way.
Kimberly Westbrook Reed could
visit her dad. Now we're
singing at start to shut down again.
It's very scary. Very scary.
Time isn't the only thing they lost
Mary Nichols when 202 days without
seeing her mom. By the time I
got back into see her she was dumb.
What she is now an empty
shell of a human being.
She just lays there and has 1000
yard stare and never acknowledges
my voice or my present.
This has been a challenging couple of
years for anyone with aging parents.
Patty Duquette with Texas Health and
Human Services spent much of the
last year helping these families a
long term care on Botsman is here
to help help residents who live in
nursing facilities and assisted
living facilities to serve as
their advocate and to help them.
Speak up about what they need
and what their rights are.
Help educate residents about their rights
and how to exercise them and when they
need us to help. Be their voice and
once again families are reporting
problems visiting their loved ones
since July 1st we've had 19 complaints
that have come across the street
across the state on visitation that
ombudsmen have reported and only
a couple of those have needed to
be reported to HHSC for resolution
the state. Has four active
complaints. Facilities are
closing doors and saying they're doing it.
In in UM, trying to be cautious trying
to be in an abundance of caution,
they're trying to keep their residents safe,
but these are in total violation of
long term care facility guidelines.
Emergency visitation guidelines put in
place by Texas Health and Human Services,
a law recently passed by Texas
lawmakers will allow families to
designate an essential caregiver who
will be allowed in person visits,
even during a pandemic.
The law goes into effect September 1st.
Until then, emergency guidelines put
in place last year remain in effect,
but some families tell us they are
being limited to the amount of time
they can visit their loved ones,
but there has to be 2 hours where every
day an essential caregiver can have
access to their loved one. You do have
an Ombudsman that you need to reach out to.
Each facility should be able to give
you their name and number to have
somebody that's representing you
and talking for you, but don't give
up if anyone is encountering a problem with.
Not being able to visit and you have
questions or you want to file a complaint,
we really want them to call their
long Term Care Ombudsman.
Kim's dad lost more than time last year.
His physical therapy sessions
were also cut back. Daddy
lost a lot of strength in his
legs and is now in his scooter
99% of the time. He walked on
his own for the first time this
weekend, but they're still trying
to make up for lost time. It's
important that we take every
second we can to make sure he gets.
The joy that he deserves.
Many families say the psychological
effects of being kept away from
loved ones is just as damaging.
They don't want to be
isolated, they are scared.
They're scared of what would
come if they get COVID.
They're scared of what you know,
how physically that will affect them.
But the most important thing
is to be there with them in the
fear and encourage them that that
each day is a good day and that
you're there with them to get
through whatever might come.
We've put
a link to the Ombudsman number if
you're having issues with visitation.
At a nursing or assisted living
facility at kv.com for the KV
defenders, I'm Terri Gruca.