Holiday Visits, COVID-19, and Senior Safety
As coronavirus cases continue to spike across the country, holiday travel plans are colliding with public health concerns. The holiday season is here, but for seniors in long-term care facilities, it looks very different. Operators of senior living communities face tough choices about whether to allow residents to travel or welcome family visits. Their primary concern is protecting older adults, who remain among the most vulnerable.
Gatherings that bring together multiple households indoors, especially without strong COVID-19 precautions, raise particular alarm. For many families, this creates painful decisions about whether to visit in person or celebrate virtually.
CDC Guidelines for Safer Gatherings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to publish clear guidance on gatherings. Before planning holiday visits, the CDC advises checking the local community’s COVID-19 levels. They stress that their recommendations are not replacements for state or local health orders, but are meant to supplement them.
Their message is consistent: follow commonsense precautions—masking, distancing, and limiting group sizes—to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Senior Living Facilities Respond
A survey by LeadingAge reported in McKnight’s Senior Living found that 81% of care and senior living providers are asking residents not to travel this holiday season. Facilities are also requiring residents and staff who leave for celebrations to self-quarantine and test before returning.
Policies vary: some facilities ban visitors altogether, except in cases of end-of-life or essential caregiving, while others allow small groups with restrictions. Nearly half of providers discourage any in-person guests. The goal is to strike a balance between protecting residents’ health and recognizing their need for family connection.
Conflicting Federal Guidance
Adding to the challenge, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised visitation guidelines in September. These rules encourage more opportunities for family visits, citing the harmful emotional and mental health effects of isolation. CMS reaffirmed these guidelines in a November 18 press release, making it clear that facilities must comply or face potential penalties.
This puts facilities in a difficult position: they want to restrict holiday gatherings to reduce transmission, yet they must also follow CMS’s directive to allow greater visitation.
Balancing Safety and Connection
Senior living communities are under pressure to find creative ways to celebrate the holidays without creating unsafe gatherings. For residents who leave to visit family, facilities must enforce self-quarantine and testing upon return. Infection control, careful planning, and compassion are essential to keep residents safe while honoring their right to family contact.
Dr. David Gifford, chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association, reminds us that more than half of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic. “Wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing not only protects you,” he explains, “but it shows respect for our elders and for the healthcare heroes who care for them.”
Moving Forward
Every facility, state, and community faces unique challenges. But the responsibility is shared: families, staff, and policymakers must work together to protect seniors while keeping them connected.
If you or a loved one need guidance with long-term care planning during this difficult time, Aging in Maine is here to help. Call us at (207) 848-5600 or CONTACT
