The Texas Senate Wednesday unanimously passed (29-0) legislation that would create an essential care giver for the residents of nursing homes and state supported living centers. It was filed by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst.
The legislation is an effort to strengthen their rights to maintain contact and personal visits with loved ones during state emergencies.
"I have listened to emotional stories from constituents and heard from desperate families across Texas who were not allowed to see a loved one for months,” said Kolkhorst. “While there is a public health mission to protect our vulnerable populations from COVID-19, that pursuit should not send residents into a state of solitary confinement with no personal contact from family or friends."
The bill allows the resident or resident’s guardian to designate at least one essential caregiver. The caregiver is provided with training to allow them to safely go inside a facility for scheduled visits to help ensure their loved one's physical, social, and emotional needs are being met.
The bill also directs the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to establish a visitation schedule of at least two hours each day and to allow the caregiver physical contact with the resident.
State Senator Paul Bettencourt, co-author of the legislation added that he really calls the newly created position “an emotional caregiver, because that’s what we’ve really walled off for a year.”