Van Rensselaer Manor Allowing Limited Visitation
by Doug La Rocque
The Office of County Executive Steve McLaughlin has confirmed to The Eastwick Press that the county owned nursing home is allowing limited outdoor visitations. They are restricted to 20 minutes in length and residents are separated from their families by a large plastic curtain with six feet of spacing, and families are separated by another plastic curtain. Family members are asked to wear masks. Four such visitation booths have been set up.
Mr. McLaughlin says “Rensselaer County is proud to operate the Van Rensselaer Manor senior care facility, which has an outstanding record of service and care. An important component of that care is social interaction between seniors, visits from friends and family, and other meaningful contacts.”
“Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Manor has been closed to outside visitors. This order went into place on March 3. That means we are entering the fifth month where seniors who are residents at the VRM have not been able to see friends.”
“We have received many, many calls, letters and messages about visitors to the VRM. They have spoken about the heartbreak, loneliness, confusion and anguish from seniors and their families about the lack of in-person visits. Based on those calls, we have repeatedly asked the state to work collaboratively and cooperatively with counties to allow for safe and voluntary in-person visits for family.”
“To date, we have not received a plan from the state and we remain hopeful the state will support efforts to arrange these important visits. During the past six weeks, we have repeatedly asked the state and are looking forward to an answer.”
“We believe in-person visits can be done safely and restore an important connection between families and their loved ones at the Manor. We have set up a visiting area in the outside lobby, where seniors can easily access the area, and speak to loved ones through a protective screen, while being observed and checked, and for a limited amount of time.”
“The response we have gotten from families has been tremendous. Families say their loved ones have better morale and families feel reconnected. They recognize the importance of social interaction, and how powerful even a brief in-person visit can be to a senior who has missed their family and not been able to see them for over 100 days.”
“We want the state to recognize how important these visits are to families, and how these visits can be done safely as we deal with the outbreak.”
News of this was first reported by WRGB (CBS 6). In their report, a spokesman for the NYS Department of Health is quoted as saying “Outdoor visitation in line with what you have described is not permitted under current DOH guidelines, and the Department is contacting the facility directly to review these practices and ensure safety.”