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The Alabama Nursing Home Association is encouraging its members to allow in-person visitation.

President and CEO Brandon Farmer has issued a statement encouraging

its members to allow in-person visitation within Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Alabama Department of Public Health parameters as soon as they are safely able to do so.

“I must stress that nursing homes care for people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and must protect the health and safety of residents and staff,” Farmer said.

Reopening will be a deliberate process and depends greatly on the status of the disease in the local community” he said.

He also acknowledged his confidence that Alabama’s nursing home will find creative ways to conduct safe outdoor visits.

Dale Law, owner of Noble Manor, said, as of August 31, each resident has a designed 30 minutes each week for an in-person porch visit with an immediate family member.

“Of course, social distancing still applies and that means no physical contact and masks are required,” Law said. “We check the temperature of the visitors and ask the questions. So, we feel confident in the in-person porch visits and the residents are really excited and look forward to them.”

Other than the in-person porch visits, Law said there is nothing new to the routine.

“Our residents stay in their rooms except for walking in the halls and around the building and they wear masks and keep social distance at all times,” Law said. “They have one meal a day in the dining room with one person to a table and they enjoy talking with each other. We are continuing to do everything possible to keep our residents safe. They understand and are accepting of the regulations.”

Warren Kelly, Troy Health and Rehabilitation Center administrator, said the facility has a cumulative total of 37 COVIID cases, 23 residents and14 employees.

Troy Health and Rehab currently has zero COVID-19 cases.

“Troy Health and Rehab is following Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines related to the frequency of testing for both residents and employees,” Kelly said. “Over the next few weeks, resident representatives will be contacted about outside visitation with their loved ones. This will require all parties to social distance and wear masks during visits.”

Troy Health and Rehab continues to follow Center for Disease Control and CMS guidelines in an effort to contain the virus. Troy Health and Rehab COVID-19 cases are updated on its website at troyhealthandrehab.com.”

Kelly said any questions regarding the coronavirus may be directed to TRMC COVID-19 hotline at 334-672-3852.