Posted: | January 26, 2021 12:07 PM |
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From: | Representative Kathy L. Rapp |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Creating an Essential Caregiver in Long-Term Care Facilities |
I plan to introduce legislation in the near future that will mirror regulations enacted in Minnesota and Indiana to allow a designated essential caregiver to be named for each resident of a long-term care facility. It has been more than ten months since many of our long-term care facilities have closed to visits from friends and family of the residents. Many of these residents are scared and confused at the changes in their daily life and missing those loved ones who contributed to their routines. This prolonged separation has negatively impacted the overall health and well-being of these vulnerable residents. Other states have acknowledged that steps need to be taken to protect the physical health of our long-term care residents but also support their mental health and emotional well-being. In creating the essential caregiver program, both Indiana and Minnesota established protocols to screen the essential caregivers and require additional steps for the essential caregivers to gain access to the long-term care facilities. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation so we can safely return family members to the long-term care facilities to assist in the care and support of our most vulnerable residents. |
Introduced as HB649