More nursing home residents get virtual visit technology

More than two dozen AARP state offices have called on lawmakers to better facilitate virtual visitation options for long-term care residents. Oregon's AARP office worked with the

state's Department of Human Services to draft guidance requiring virtual visitation at long-term care facilities. AARP is pushing for the same requirement at the federal level. In

Alaska, AARP's state office worked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow a portion of fines nursing homes have paid for care or sanitation violations to be

directed toward buying them technology for virtual visits. Individual facilities can use up to $3,000 in money redirected from fines. The new guidelines are making a difference, particularly

for smaller facilities, says Teresa Holt, the director of the AARP Alaska office and the state's former long-term care ombudsman. "It works great if you have a small facility and

you only need like three iPads. But if you have 100 people and you need 10 to 15 iPads, it's probably not sufficient,” says Holt, who wants to raise the $3,000 threshold for larger

operations. AARP's Texas office worked with state officials on a similar policy. Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission last month announced a pool of $3.6

million from fines and penalties for facilities to purchase communication equipment for residents. In Pennsylvania, the $10,000 for new technology and paid phone minutes came from

AARP's state office. The office coordinated with the state government to determine which facilities needed the technology, while the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging

purchased the phones and tablets. Johnston-Walsh, the state AARP director, hopes for more donations and funding mechanisms to allow the program to expand to more of Pennsylvania's 699

nursing homes in weeks ahead. Because of the potential risk of spreading coronavirus through shared devices, many facilities are hoping for more technology to go around. "If every

resident was able to get a tablet, that would be ideal in a situation like this,” says Rachel Reeves, director of communication at the National Center for Assisted Living. The National

Center for Assisted Living and the American Health Care Association, which represents the nursing home industry, are directing donations of tablets and technology, along with puzzles, games,

hand sanitizer, gloves and other supplies, to long-term care facilities through their #CareNotCovid campaign. The groups launched a social media campaign in which people can record and

upload short videos and messages of encouragement that can be shared with nursing home residents and staff. “This is a potentially isolating time for residents,” Reeves said. “We know that

so many people were stepping up and asking how else they can help."