NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Wednesday that will require nursing homes to notify residents, as well as their family members and guardians, when an infection is detected within the facility. It also requires facilities to have a plan to accommodate exposed or infected residents to stop the spread of infection.
“New Yorkers living in nursing homes deserve the highest quality of care, and their families deserve to know that their loved ones are safe,” said Governor Hochul. “With this legislation, we will ensure that all facilities are prepared to protect residents from exposure after an infection is detected, while also improving communication to ensure that residents and family members are notified of the situation. in a timely manner. This is a critical step to make sure nursing homes take the right steps to protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers.”
The legislation will expand the existing pandemic emergency plan to improve communication by requiring nursing homes to inform residents and their loved ones of an infection. It will also require facilities to prepare a plan or procedure for resident accommodations during an infectious disease outbreak, which will help ensure that each nursing home is ready and can effectively place residents in the event of an infection to your safety and the safety of others.
“The COVID-19 pandemic taught us many necessary, yet deeply painful lessons. As a direct result of our 2020 hearings on nursing home safety, this legislation will ensure these facilities are prepared when future infection threats emerge and empower families of our sick and elderly to make informed decisions about their care. We must never allow our residential care facilities to be so shocked again,” said State Senator James Skoufis.
Among other actions in the past, in December 2021, the Governor also signed a package of four laws to support long-term care facilities and provide assistance to the system. The legislation directed the Commissioner of Health to implement an infection inspection audit and checklist in nursing homes, enacted a series of reforms to the State’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and related programs to increase the accessibility for residents of nursing homes and residential care facilities,