PATASKALA, Ohio — Nursing home facilities around the state are preparing for visitors, Monday.
“I do feel like allowing the outdoor visitations is a good thing for our residents,” Zach Mills said.
Mills is the administrator for the Pataskala Oaks Care Center. The past four months, he says, have been filled with give-and-takes.
“Overall, I would say we have been very fortunate,” he said.
Fortunate for no COVID-19 cases for about 65 residents or staff. Still, Mills says about half a dozen workers have not returned to work due to fears of the coronavirus.
With more than 65,000 confirmed cases in the state and a recent uptick seeing more than 1,000 cases a day in the last week, Mills admits there’s a concern.
“There is always that fear,” he said. “There’s so much we’re learning about this virus each and every day.”
He says the guidelines the state has put in place has minimized risk.
Starting Monday, July 20, visitations will be allowed outside while being six feet apart and all parties have to wear masks. The facility will also be screening visitors by a health questionnaire and having their temperatures checked. Pataskala Oaks is also encouraging hand sanitizing. Mills says the decision to allow visitors is up to each facility.
“It definitely puts a lot of pressure on individual providers to make that call,” Mills said.
Safety is number one, Mills says, for residents, staff and visitors. Mills says if cases continue to rise it could mean families might have to spend even more time apart.
“Knowing that there are a number of families who have not been able to see their loved one without a piece of glass in the way, that is definitely a decision that has to waver very heavily,” he said.