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State legislators push to ease nursing home restrictions
Observer-Dispatch - 9/23/2020
Four state legislators met with advocates Wednesday to push for less restrictions on nursing home visitation, according to a statement from the office of state Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joseph Griffo, R-Rome.
Griffo was joined by state Assembly members Brian Miller, R-New Hartford, John Salka, R-Brookfield and Marianne Buttenschon, D-Marcy, as well as advocates Ruth Wallace and Karla Abraham-Conley. Wallace and Conley have been active in seeking more access for caregivers to nursing homes and extended care facilities.
Griffo said he will introduce legislation to create the essential caregivers designation in nursing homes and similar facilities, the statement said. Under the bill, family members could be designated as an essential caregiver to improve the daily care and well-being of residents.
"During these challenging times, it is important that we go above and beyond to ensure that nursing home residents have the chance to see their loved ones and have access to the care that they need," Griffo said in a statement. "While I recognize that the coronavirus pandemic is ever-changing and that we must take steps to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers, others, including inmates in prison, have more access to visitors than those in nursing homes."
Griffo also called for broader reform of the nursing home industry.
"It has been made clear that nursing homes are supportive and ready to resume visitation once clear state guidelines are released," Buttenschon said. "These caregivers see firsthand the impact that isolation has had on their residents."
The state legislators and advocates also urged the public to contact Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration on social media and by phone, email or mail to share their feelings about the state's nursing home policies and restrictions, the statement said.
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