April 27, 2021

In this Issue:

1. New CDC, CMS Guidance on Dining and Other Activities for Vaccinated Nursing Home Residents
   
2. Using the CMS Guidance to Open Nursing Home Doors
   
3. Updated Recovery and Reentry Resources for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs
   
4. Technical Assistance Brief on the Federal Eviction Moratorium and Long-Term Care Facilities
   
5. National Academies Seeking Perspectives on Nursing Home Care
   

New CDC, CMS Guidance on Dining and Other Activities for Vaccinated Nursing Home Residents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance today that lifts restrictions on dining and other activities for fully vaccinated nursing home residents.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its visitation and testing memos to reflect these changes.

Read the article in McKnight's for more information.

Using the CMS Guidance to Open Nursing Home Doors

Join a conversation with Consumer Voice this Friday, April 30th at 2:00pm ET about how residents, families and advocates can use guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to facilitate in-person visitation. While the new guidance expands visitation, many residents and families still have questions and concerns.

After providing a brief overview of the CMS guidance, we will discuss several of the most common issues, including strategies and tips for applying the guidance to help open nursing home doors.  Our conversation will also cover the recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that limits when residents should be quarantined.

Register Now

Updated Recovery and Reentry Resources for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs

The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) has updated several of its recovery and reentry resources for long-term care Ombudsman programs.

• Tips for Facility Visits During an Infectious Disease Outbreak provides information on preparing for a visit, what to bring, cleaning and sanitizing, and tips on protecting yourself and others.

• Visit Checklist During the COVID-19 Pandemic provides a detailed task list for completing a safe and successful visit to a facility.

See more recovery and reentry resources for long-term care Ombudsman programs on NORC's webisite.

Participate in NORC's recovery and reentry open dialogue series Tuesday, May 11th and Tuesday, May 25th.

Technical Assistance Brief on the Federal Eviction Moratorium and Long-Term Care Facilities

On March 28, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended its eviction moratorium to June 30, 2021. The order has protected certain individuals experiencing income loss from being evicted from their homes during the pandemic. Although the order's language is broad, it will likely have little effect on residents of nursing homes. However, it could be a valuable tool for residents of assisted living facilities to prevent discharge. Its applicability will depend on why a resident is being discharged and how local laws and regulations define facilities.

Read our Technical Assistance Brief on the topic.

National Academies Seeking Perspectives on Nursing Home Care

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine's Committee on the Quality of Care in Nursing Homes is inviting residents, families, and nursing home workers to share their stories, thoughts, and ideas about nursing home care. Please share their call for resident perspectives.

Complete the Survey