LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Some long-term care facility residents haven’t been able to leave the facility or visit family in-person since the pandemic began. Governor Asa Hutchinson announced on Friday that the COVID-19 directives would now be guidelines, not directives
“I love to be around people. I don’t want to be by myself I never have,” Charlie Payne said.
Payne, who is 95-years-old, plays golf almost every. He moved out of the Plaza assisted living in Arkadelphia three months after the COVID-19 restrictions essentially shut down assisted living facilities. Previously, he had lived there for seven years with his wife before she passed away.
“I’m still active and I like to do outdoor things,” Payne said.
When Hutchinson lifted restrictions on some long-term care facilities he decided to move back in on Monday.
“I wouldn’t have come back unless I could come and go as I want,” Payne said.
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| Emily Talley lives in an assisted living center in Arkadelphia. She was only allowed to leave the facility to go to the doctor. Monday Talley was able to go with her daughter for the first time since the pandemic. They spent the time shopping and getting their nails done. (Photo by KATV) |
Rachel Bunch is the executive director for the Arkansas Healthcare Association. She said the new guidelines can be confusing.
“The governor's announcement on Friday that changes those directives to guidance it affects most the assisted living facilities and the residential care facilities giving them the opportunity and the option to open up more for visitation,” Bunch said.
Nursing homes, however, fall under federal control, meaning how much they open up is dependent on the COVID-19 positivity rate in the county and the number of cases in the facility for the last 14 days.
“In the last 14 days we only have 7 long-term care facilities in Arkansas that have five are more cases,” Bunch said.
Bunch said that at present out of the nearly 40,000 residents and healthcare workers in long-term care facilities, 70 residents are positive for COVID-19 and 61 healthcare workers are positive. She said it’s a far cry from the high number of cases they were seeing at the beginning of the year.
Tamara Rocole is the administrator of the Plaza at Twin Rivers and she said that 99% of her residents received both of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Well, it has been testing my patience,” Plaza resident Joyce Morehead said about the restrictions. She said she felt safe and taken care of inside the living facility, but is thankful to be able to eat dinner with other residents now instead of by herself.
Morehead finally got to leave the facility for the first time in a year this week. Previously, she had seen her daughters through the window in her room.
“I was overjoyed and it was so nice to once again touch a person and see them face to face,” Morehead said.
Bunch
said the association is still working with the department of health and
DHS to clarify the rules on certain facilities. She said if you're
unsure if your loved ones facility’s guidelines have changed it’s best
to call up to the administration.
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