Residents Eligible for Booster Shot State health commissioner Dr. Steven Stack announced on August 17, 2021 that residents of Kentucky’s long term care facilities are eligible to have a third booster shot against COVID-19. In a letter to providers and their pharmacies Dr. Stack wrote, “Due to the age, condition, and high COVID-19 mortality rate of nursing […]
Category Archives: News
NEW GUIDANCE! Restrictions are reduced for long-term care On May 13, 2021, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services released Provider Guidance Update: Phased Reduction of Restrictions for Long Term Care Facilities. As everyone knows by now, long-term care was hardest hit by COVID-19 because residents of these facilities tend to be older and have multiple […]
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services Issued New Visitation Guidance for Nursing Facilities. The new guidance allows indoor and outdoor visits for all residents, except in limited circumstances. Infection prevention protocols are still in place and must be followed by all visitors. Visitation is allowed regardless of vaccination status. Limitations on visitation may occur: for unvaccinated […]
The LTC COVID-19 county indicator map is changing colors! At one time all 120 counties in KY were in the red. As counties move out of the red nursing facilities are able to resume more indoor visitation. According to guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 one tool facilities use […]
Visiting Residents in LTC Facilities The in the newsletter above on devastating effects of lockdowns on residents points out that in September 2020, The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) eased visitation restrictions and permitted visits under limited circumstances. Since September nursing facilities have been allowed by federal COVID-19 guidance to coordinate Compassionate […]
From the Desk of the KY State LTC Ombudsman As 2020 comes to a close I want to take a moment to thank you. Thank you to the 35,000 long-term care residents in Kentucky. You have sacrificed so much to try and protect each other and health care workers during the pandemic. Thank you for trying new […]
Residents need you now more than ever! Give a little extra cheer to long-term care residents this holiday season by helping ombudsmen gather gifts for residents in Kentucky nursing, personal care, and family care homes. For more information about the Silver Bells gifting project visit our website. Click here for the entire e-newsletter.
Residents’ Rights Month 2020 As October comes to a close we recognize the annual celebration of Residents’ Rights month was very different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate the opportunities ombudsmen had to safely work with residents, families, and facility staff to help promote awareness of rights. Prior to Residents’ Rights month […]
Changes in Long-Term Care Visitation Guidance The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) recently issued new guidance for nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities regarding visitation and communal activities. Click here to read the entire newsletter.
The Kentucky State Long-Term Care Ombudsman created a guide for residents about COVID-19 and their rights. Thanks to funding from the CARES ACT thousands of copies are being shipped to all Kentucky Long-Term Care facilities. We ask the administrators at each facility to safely coordinate distributing the information to residents. Read the full August 2020 Newsletter here.