Oklahoma representative urges Gov. Stitt to begin soft reopening of nursing homes

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — State Rep. Lundy Kiger (R-Poteau) is calling on Gov. Kevin Stitt to push the Centers for Disease Control and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue guidelines to begin the soft reopening of Oklahoma's nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

“Everyone is totally on board with being safe and taking precautions with our most vulnerable population who are living in assisted living or nursing home facilities,” he said. “But the current rules by the CDC and CMS offer no end in sight for these people who are trapped away from their families and the world. These people not being allowed visits by their families and not being able to see their loved ones presents a mental health concern that perhaps is even worse than the pandemic itself.”

Kiger said many of the residents in the facilities are elderly and have been locked down alone with no date when they can expect to see their family members. The isolation is affecting their physical and emotional spirits, he added.

“If we can provide guidance for businesses opening up again, surely we can find ways for family members to get the opportunity by June 1, 2020, to physically see and talk to their loved ones,” Kiger said.

He is pushing for glass partitions, like the ones used in convenience stores to separate customers from the cashier, to be developed to ensure safe visits to nursing homes or other health care facilities.

Kiger suggested a resident or patient could be put in a large room to allow for social distancing to visit with a family member or loved one, but only after the visitor has passed an advanced screen-in check and wears a mask and gloves.

“This would change the lives of thousands of people, and would help improve the lives of these people who are losing hope and dying not from the virus but because they are so broken down emotionally with nothing to look forward to,” he said.

Kiger is asking Gov. Stitt to consider talking to other governors across the country and President Trump to push for the CDC and CMS to develop guidelines for the soft reopening.

“Let’s give these people and their families something to look forward to for the future,” he said.