News

COVID-19 Visitation and Activities Guidance

On September 1, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran

New Season, Same Guidance: Refresher on Visitation, Activities, and Group Gatherings Guidance

On August 18, 2022 by Kari Everson

Guidance for activities, visitation, and large group gatherings has not changed significantly. However, as the summer is winding down, long-term care settings that host gatherings are seeking a guidance refresher for these events.

CMS and CDC National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call

On February 3, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a national stakeholder call on Feb. 2 to update its listeners regarding COVID-19, revisions to nursing home guidance, and best practices. The following is a summary for those who could not listen in on the call.

MDH Indicates Forthcoming Guidance to Eliminate Assisted Living Visitation Restrictions

On November 18, 2021 by Kari Everson

The Minnesota Department of Health has indicated that the agency will issue guidance for assisted living settings in the coming days, reflecting recent federal guidance for nursing homes and eliminating visitation restrictions in long-term care settings.

CMS Updates Nursing Home Testing Guidance

On September 15, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

On Sept. 10, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated QSO-20-38-NH concerning nursing home testing to align with recently updated recommendations from the CDC.

What to Do When You Have a COVID-19 Outbreak

On August 25, 2021 by Kari Everson

In the last several weeks, the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living settings have increased. Because there was an extended time when outbreaks were low, we have received many questions about handling them, specifically visitation and testing.

COVID-19 Guidance & Resource Round-Up

On April 21, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) posted an update on April 20 to its Long-term Care Visitation Guidance Flowchart for Outbreak Status tool. MDH first released this resource a few weeks ago as a companion to its updated guidance on indoor visitation. The April update provides additional information to explain how outbreak testing and visitation intersect.

CMS and CDC to Answer Visitation Questions on Thursday Webinar

On March 24, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

As providers across the country work to absorb and implement updated visitation guidance, many questions are rising to the surface. To address these trending questions, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call this Thursday, March 25, from 3 – 4 p.m. CT.

MDH Publishes Guidance, Eases Restrictions in Congregate Care Settings

On March 17, 2021 by Kari Everson

State and federal regulators provided updated guidance that allows for more visitors to enter our building with fewer restrictions and allows for vaccinated residents to leave our settings without the requirement of a 14-day quarantine in some instances. Just this morning, MDH posted updated Long-term Care Guidance for Non-medically Necessary Outings, Long-term Care Visitation Guidance for Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living–type Settings, and two flowcharts to inform congregate care settings of the guidance updates linked later in this story. In these guidance documents, MDH adopted the QSO 20-39-NH revised memo for assisted living communities; and, adopted the CMS recommendations for health care settings.

CMS Director Joins LeadingAge Call to Answer Questions about Visitation Guidance Changes

On February 10, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran

Evan Shulman, Director of the Division of Nursing Homes, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will answer questions about how CMS is approaching any changes in visitation guidance on Thursday, February 11 at 2:30 on the Coronavirus Update Call hosted by LeadingAge, the national partner of LeadingAge Minnesota.

COVID-19 In-Person Visitation Aid Grant Opportunity

On January 27, 2021 by Lori Meyer

Nursing facilities are eligible to receive up to $3,000 in Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds to purchase equipment that facilitates in-person visitation during the COVID-19 emergency. Facilities that have not already applied have until June 1, 2021 to submit an application.

MDH Posts Additional Environmental Guidance on Indoor Visitation

On November 4, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

In new Guidance for Selecting In-building Visitation Area in Long-Term Facilities (11/04/20) released today, MDH provides more details about divider specifications in rooms or visitation areas, as well as specifics on room ventilation and airflow diagrams.

Safe Practices for a Safe Visit: New Video Available

On October 28, 2020 by Julie Apold

Everyone is working hard to balance visitation and safety. LeadingAge Minnesota’s new 4-minute Safe Practices for Safe Visits video provides the 4 key safety rules

COVID-19 Resource Round-Up: Visitation Toolkit

On October 14, 2020 by Terri Foley

To help members operationalize Monday’s release of MDH guidance for visitation in Assisted Living and HWS settings and CMS visitation guidance in memorandum QSO-20-39-NH,

New Visitation Guidance for Nursing Homes and HWS/AL Takes Effect October 17

On October 14, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

Both nursing homes and housing with services/assisted living settings will be hard at work this week preparing for implementation of new visitation guidance that takes for effect for both of these provider groups this Saturday, Oct. 17.

Guidance for Temporary Tent Structures and Clear Dividers for LTC Visitation

On September 30, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today released guidance on the use of temporary tent structures and clear dividers for purposes of visitation, which will be helpful for both nursing homes and housing with services/assisted living communities.

MDH, Providers Weigh Impact of CMS Revised Visitation Guidance

On September 23, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

In recognition of the physical and emotional toll that separation from family and other loved ones has taken on residents, CMS has issued

MDH Releases Visitation Modification Guidance Effective 8/29/20

On August 12, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

This week the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released long-awaited recommendations on modifying visitation policies in aging services settings. The recommendations are effective August 29, 2020 and apply both to nursing homes and housing with services/assisted living settings.
 

MDH Releases Essential Caregiver Guidance

On July 15, 2020 by Jodi Boyne

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) last week released new guidance that allows the designation of an Essential Caregiver for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. This guidance represents the next interim step in encouraging safe and responsible visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MDH Advances Work on Reopening Recommendations

On July 8, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) continues to work on recommendations for nursing homes and housing with services/assisted living settings to modify general visitation, but there still is not a firm timeline for release of those recommendations.