“They Want in”: Nursing Home Administrators’ Experiences Managing COVID-19 Pandemic Visitation Restrictions

Abstract

Objectives

To assess how visitation restrictions and protocols were implemented by administrators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

This qualitative study consisted of 156 semistructured interviews repeated at 3-month intervals from July 2020 to December 2021.

Setting and Participants

Interviewers were conducted with administrators of 40 nursing homes across 8 health care markets across the United States.

Methods

Interviews were conducted virtually or via phone. Thematic analysis and modified grounded theory were used to identify themes across coded transcripts.

Results

Findings demonstrated that in-person visitation restriction was followed by nursing homes using new strategies to maintain relationships between visitors and residents, including virtual visitation and visits through windows. Nursing homes also relied on compassionate care and essential caregivers, allowing family members into nursing homes under certain circumstances; however, visitation was still limited. As in-person visitation began again, nursing homes introduced required screening measures and infection control procedures to prevent the spread of infection. Administrators reported that strategies associated with changes to visitation restrictions received mixed reactions from visitors and residents.

Conclusions and Implications

Policymakers should clarify future visitation regulations in nursing homes based on insights from administrators while ensuring clear communication and delineation policies for compassionate care and essential caregiver programs. Policymakers and industry experts should reevaluate and clarify the implementation protocols of future visitation mandates among nursing homes based on insights from administrators and ensure clear policies for compassionate care and essential caregiver programs. Additionally, future screening measures should be given additional attention to ensure efficient and productive protocols.