Jul 19, 2020

A couple weeks ago, Governor DeWine announced that outdoor visits with nursing home residents can begin on July 20, 2020.  We know each long-term care facility is working diligently to come up with policies to accommodate these visits and reunite families and guardians with their residents.

While Governor DeWine stated that part of his job to keep vulnerable Ohioans safe from the virus, he said he must also protect those things that add value to life.  Visits by family members and loved ones, including our Volunteer Guardians, certainly do add value to life, as it is very important to nursing home residents’ physical and mental well-being.  We know that nursing home staff and administration recognize this, too.

Accordingly, we encourage our Volunteer Guardians with residents in long-term care facilities to wear a mask and comply with facility policies and visit their wards when they feel it is safe to do so.  These policies include the need to schedule the visit in advance and setting a time limitation on the visit. 

We know that our wards have deeply missed the connections and increase in quality of life provided by our volunteers.  Of course, your safety and that of your ward are the top priority!