Editors' Blog: Turkey roast

Long-term care operators will be monitoring residents’ comings and goings around year-end holidays to an unprecedented degree this year. The week ahead, with Thanksgiving observances, will be the first huge test.


Federal regulators put out an alert Wednesday, advising nursing homes how to handle residents’ and staff members’ circulation among the general public. The notice was short of full guidance so it lacks firm edicts or enforcement mandates in many aspects.

So, as with much of the preparation and coping amid the COVID-19 pandemic, providers will be crossing their fingers and hoping for the best when it comes to infection rates in the wake of what is liable to be a wave of off-site family visits and visitors. Any resulting infection or mortality spikes could heavily influence full guidance for the final weeks and holidays of 2020.