Relatives who often provide vital caregiving for nursing home residents say the lockdowns during the pandemic showed the need for family members to visit in person with loved ones. About a dozen states have passed laws guaranteeing that right.
Dina Halperin had been cooped up alone for three weeks in her nursing home room after her two unvaccinated roommates were moved out at the onset of the omicron surge. "I'm frustrated," she said, "and so many of the nursing staff are burned out or just plain tired."