You will be endangering a the residents at that facility. Can all the family members get the same treatment. In what way are you an essential caregiver? Would you be okay if everyone was able to get this designation and come and go at will? If you want to be an essential caregiver, then bring her home and care for her. In the meantime, the facility is trying to keep all their residents alive.
Look at the guidelines set up by the CDC and CMS, that is who guides the nursing homes nationwide. In Florida, 2 Compassionate Caretakers are now allowed per resident, they can even visit at the same time - if they visit outside. Otherwise it’s one at a time. They can hug and touch, use lotion, etc. Our facility allows two visits a week for 30 minutes each week. Gown, mask & gloves, also a rapid test.
If those guidelines will help you, take them with you to show proof they exist. Be persistent. You can file a report with ACHA if they still won’t comply. Best of luck.
Those are guidelines, to help facilities and states make decisions. The state, county or even town could have their own rules. For instance, the county mom's facility is in recently had increases in cases. The county determine the level of approval for various stages of interaction. The facility town has very few (less than 5) cases as do the surrounding towns, including mine, which is next door, but in a different county. Further east is where the spike is occurring, in the larger towns and cities with denser population, but the rules are made for the entire county. If it gets worse, it'll be back to stage 1 - no visits (currently you can schedule a brief meeting in a cafe area, but have to remain 6' apart, mask up, etc. That makes it difficult to visit my mother, as her hearing is pretty much gone - between masks, distancing and hearing, plus dementia, it won't be much of a visit. I plan to try to set one up anyway, using a small whiteboard. She had a stroke early Oct, so no idea how long she might have left!
Being able to be designated an essential visitor is going to differ depending on where you live, you need to know if it is even possible and figure out how to work within that system. This is part of the directive where I live:
"A caregiver is a type of essential visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker and is visiting to provide direct care to the resident (for example, supporting feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity and assistance in decision-making)."
*Make note of the cognitive stimulation, meaningful connection and relational continuity stipulations which can cover a lot
But even if we can meet the criteria all visits are suspended if there is covid in the facility.
Does Mother need all day emotional or behavioural support the NH cannot provide staff for? If so, I suppose it's possible the NH may consider you acting as her carer (like an unpaid CNA).
Is this what you mean? Provide Mother essential care?
Or are you wanting to visit? If so, try to negotiate staff to support video calls & window visits until restrictions ease.
During COVID, obviously, all NH's are being super cautious about who comes in and out. Constant testing and all precautions are taken every day.
In order for you to be allowed to come in, you may have to be 'qualified' as a CG, in a professional manner. IDK.
I don't think you need a petition--you need to talk to the DON at the NH and find out what you'd need to do to be considered 'professional'. If you don't set the right precedent and other people find out that you came waltzing in because you wanted to--and they can't get the same thing--you'll have WWIII.
ARE you an essential CG or are you just wanting to get in to see your mom. Huge difference.
I'm sure mom's NH has the rules posted somewhere and they are bound by laws in some states to follow them to the letter. It's hard times for everyone who has a LO in lockdown. Try to work WITH the rules, not around them. It's incredibly stressful right now for NH workers, they sure don't want one of their residents' families making demands.
If those guidelines will help you, take them with you to show proof they exist. Be persistent. You can file a report with ACHA if they still won’t comply. Best of luck.
"A caregiver is a type of essential visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker and is visiting to provide direct care to the resident (for example, supporting feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity and assistance in decision-making)."
*Make note of the cognitive stimulation, meaningful connection and relational continuity stipulations which can cover a lot
But even if we can meet the criteria all visits are suspended if there is covid in the facility.
Is this what you mean? Provide Mother essential care?
Or are you wanting to visit? If so, try to negotiate staff to support video calls & window visits until restrictions ease.
In order for you to be allowed to come in, you may have to be 'qualified' as a CG, in a professional manner. IDK.
I don't think you need a petition--you need to talk to the DON at the NH and find out what you'd need to do to be considered 'professional'. If you don't set the right precedent and other people find out that you came waltzing in because you wanted to--and they can't get the same thing--you'll have WWIII.
ARE you an essential CG or are you just wanting to get in to see your mom. Huge difference.
I'm sure mom's NH has the rules posted somewhere and they are bound by laws in some states to follow them to the letter. It's hard times for everyone who has a LO in lockdown. Try to work WITH the rules, not around them. It's incredibly stressful right now for NH workers, they sure don't want one of their residents' families making demands.