Nursing homes in the state are lifting COVID-19 visitation restrictions within their facilities effective immediately now that the New York State Department of Health adopted federal guidance requiring the change, according to a nursing home advocacy group and a facility in Washington County.

The new guidance updates rules released in September 2020, which allowed for limited visitations and required mask-wearing. 

Under the updated state guidance sent in a letter to nursing homes on Nov. 16, nursing home residents will now be allowed unabridged access to visitors, regardless of their vaccination status. Pre-existing limits on how many people and how long visitations can last have also been lifted. 

“It’s written. It’s clear, and there is no debate,” Essential Care Visitor founder Marcella Goheen said.

“The residents have been waiting for two years to meaningfully engage with their family,” Goheen said. Her husband is living in a long-term care facility, which inspired her to become an advocate for other caregivers during the pandemic.

She says the change in course comes at perfect time.

“They’ve had three rounds of holidays with being isolated and a staffing shortage at the same time,” said Goheen.

Eighty-six percent of the state's nursing home residents are fully vaccinated, according to state data.

Per the new guidance, residents may now leave the facilities for extended periods, with COVID-19 testing recommended upon their return. 

While the weight of COVID-19 guidelines in state facilities has been partially alleviated, the health department will continue to require physical distancing in public areas, and mask-wearing will depend on local community infection rates. 

In June, Spectrum News 1 spoke with administrators at Fort Hudson in Fort Edward.

They said they were looking forward to the guidelines established in September 2020 being revised.

“It really does bring a lot more life and energy to a facility,” said Fort Hudson Health System CEO Andy Cruikshank. He says while visitors will be welcome without an appointment, infection control standards and screening are still in play.

“Very important that visitors continue to take their own precautions,” he said. They need to be very accurate with their screening questions. They need to recognize that they are a risk.”

Cruikshank says this is not only beneficial for residents at Fort Hudson, but for staff, too.

“It starts to bring a nursing facility, which is a very social environment, back to the level of energy that should exist,” he said.

Cruikshank says he’s confident he and his staff will be able to hold COVID at bay with these loosened restrictions and advocates agree.

“We’re practicing infection control. We know more about COVID. We know the risk factors,” Goheen said.

And while she calls it a celebratory moment, she's not about to cease her advocacy work.

“The question remains, 'Why were these federal rights violated for so long,” she said. “And I believe it was a combination of things.”

The new guidance on visitation comes after the state required all nursing home staff be fully vaccinated. With 74% of staff vaccinated, the state DOH said "continued restrictions on this vital resident’s right are no longer necessary."

Infection rates in nursing homes will continue to be monitored and made available in a public database.