COVID Moving Some UC Rest Homes Back To Limited Visitations

Community COVID numbers have some rest home facilities back to limited visitations.

Cedar Hills Senior Living Executive Director Jenene Jones said the facility has moved back to visitations by immediate family only.

“It is tough,” Jones said. “It is a tough season for all healthcare facilities. As we know over the last two years, you do have to balance quality and quantity with your residents.”

Jones said Cedar Hills classifies as an assisted living facility, so Medicare and Medicaid do not play a role in visitation policies. Jones said state department of health guidelines are used instead.

Life Care Center of Sparta has a more open visitation policy. Executive Director Latessa Morris said all residents are allowed indoor and outdoor visits following a COVID screen on visitors.

“We have to always remain mindful of the community transmission rate or status for our area,” Morris said. “For a very long time for several months now, our area has remained in the red category.”

As a nursing home, Life Care Center of Sparta does follow Medicare and Medicare guidelines. Morris said as long as visitors pass the screening, there is not a specific limit on visitations.

Overton County Health and Rehab also recently changed its visitation policy to one visitor per resident per day.