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New Jersey Long-Term Care OmbudsmanNew! Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Updating and Clarifying COVID-19 Vaccination Deadlines for Covered Workers at Health Care Facilities and High-Risk Congregate
Effective immediately! All long term care facilities now must allow visitation, including during an outbreak. View DOH EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE (Revised April 21, 2022)
On November 12th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its federal visitation guidance. This guidance requires LTC facilities to allow indoor visitation "at all times and for all residents…"
NEW! View CMS Current Guidance (updated March 10, 2022)
View CMS Nursing Home Visitation FAQ
Residents and family members are always encouraged to bring their concerns about care to the attention of the nursing facility management.
Residents of long-term care facilities have a right to be active participants in their care planning. In addition, family members can ask to be invited to their loved one’s care conferences, with the resident’s consent.
A good way for residents and family members to share information and to transmit care concerns to the administration of the facility is by participating in resident councils or family councils.
Resident councils are run by residents. Residents have the right to organize and participate in these council and the administration of the facility is required to respond to concerns raised during the council meeting.
Learn more about resident councils.
Family councils are run by family members. If there is no active council, the family member may wish to consider working with other family members to ask the nursing home for support in starting a family council.
Learn more regarding resident rights and family councils.
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