For several months, Alzheimer’s New Jersey, along with other thought leadership, has been bringing public attention to the crisis of loneliness and isolation in New Jersey’s residential care facilities – a crisis created as an unintended consequence of strict visitation limits to stop the spread of COVID-19 in these facilities.
Lack of in-person contact and the loss of connection to a loved one is having devastating emotional and physical health consequences for residents, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as well as for their caregivers. Many healthcare professionals with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease agree that those with dementia are dying not just from the coronavirus, but from the isolation that is supposed to protect them from the virus itself.
The New Jersey Department of Health has recognized this crisis and established guidelines for visitation under the definitions of both Essential and Compassionate Caregivers. The guidelines, however, are confusing and as they are left to each individual long-term care facility to interpret, there is a great deal of inconsistency and ambiguity. As a result, while some caregivers have limited visitation with their loved ones, many more are still locked out. We need a better solution to this crisis of isolation.
New Jersey Assembly Bill 4657, sponsored by Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn and Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy and New Jersey Senate Bill 2897, sponsored by Senator Joseph Pennacchio and Senator Anthony M. Bucco, establish visitation requirements for long-term care facilities in response to outbreaks of infectious disease. These companion bills, more commonly known as “Sally’s Law,” call for the designation of up to two individuals per resident who can visit inside a long-term care facility while following all designated safety procedures. Visitation would be once per day at any time and for any duration of time provided a visitation appointment is scheduled 24 hours in advance.
These bills urgently need your voice in support of caregivers unable to visit their loved ones – some for the past 9 months – to assist with feeding and bathing as well as to provide the love and warmth so important to their quality care.
Some may question the wisdom of advocating for more open visitation as we currently experience a surge in positive COVID cases in our state. Perhaps the better question is: How can we continue to deprive family members of their right to safely visit their loved ones?
As Alzheimer’s disease is a terminal illness, these families are running out of time. Policies that make adult children feel like they have abandoned their aging parents in the last stage of life are not acceptable. At a time when their loved ones are so vulnerable, family caregivers seek very little except the ability to bring a comforting touch and the love and laughter of life shared to a parent, spouse, partner or grandparent.
The situation is heartbreaking and unnecessary …
We can do better than this.
Please reach out to Assemblywoman Huttle and Senator Vitale and urge them to support these bills.
Kenneth C. Zaentz
Alzheimer’s New Jersey
President and CEO
kzaentz@alznj.org
