State issues guidelines for nursing home holiday visits

Home for the holidays is a possibility for people who live in nursing homes, rehab centers and long-term care facilities.

The Texas State Health and Human Services Commission just released new guidance for how it will work.

According to the state's latest guidance, it is a resident's right to leave their facility for a short period of time as long as they follow infection control procedure which includes wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes, maintain social distance and remain cognizant of people who could possibly have COVID-19 and report the contact to the facility.

Residents who do not follow the infection protocol procedure, who are possibly exposed to COVID-19 or who are gone overnight will be placed in a 14-day quarantine when they return.

According to the state's guidance, the facility should talk with the resident once they are back about their activity and determine whether they should quarantine.

Families wishing to take a resident out for a short visit should discuss it in detail with the nursing home and longterm care facilities.