Drawing from the CDC for the Four S’s for Safer LTC Visitations

Socializing with family and friends is essential for older adults in long-term care because it significantly reduces the depression and anxiety that may come from isolation and loneliness. Unfortunately, today socializing may also bring COVID-19 infections to one of the most at-risk populations for morbidity and mortality from this disease. It is estimated that over 40% of the COVID-19 deaths in LTC resulted from visitation, which in turn resulted in most LTC settings banning visitors. We have now gained a better understanding of how to manage the risk of COVID-19 spread while benefiting from reopening to visitation, so many LTC communities will be entering a phase of readmitting visitors.