Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being

Hilde Verbeek; Debby L. Gerritsen; Ramona Backhaus; Bram S. de Boer; Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans; Jan P. H. Hamers

doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2020.06.020

Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being

Hilde Verbeek^*, Debby L. Gerritsen, Ramona Backhaus, Bram S. de Boer, Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans, Jan P. H. Hamers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Objectives: To prevent and control COVID-19 infections, nursing homes across the world have taken very restrictive measures, including a ban for visitors. These restrictive measures have an enormous impact on residents' well-being and pose dilemmas for staff, although primary data are lacking. A Dutch guideline was developed to cautiously open nursing homes for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports the first findings on how the guideline was applied in the local context; the compliance to local protocols; and the impact on well-being of residents, their family caregivers, and staff.

Design: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted.

Setting and Participants: In total, 26 nursing homes were permitted to enlarge their possibilities for allowing visitors in their facility. These nursing homes were proportionally representative of the Netherlands as they were selected by their local Area Health Authority for participation. At each nursing home, a contact person was selected for participation in the current study.

Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of questionnaire, telephone interviews, analyses of documentation (ie, local visiting protocols), and a WhatsApp group.

Results: Variation in local protocols was observed, for example, related to the use of personal protective equipment, location, and supervision of visits. In general, experiences were very positive. All nursing homes recognized the added value of real and personal contact between residents and their loved ones and indicated a positive impact on well-being. Compliance with local guidelines was sufficient to good. No new COVID-19 infections were reported during this time.

Conclusions and Implications: These results indicate the value of family visitation in nursing homes and positive impact of visits. Based on these results, the Dutch government has decided to allow all nursing homes in the Netherlands to cautiously open their homes using the guidelines. More research is needed on impact and long-term compliance. (C) 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	900-904
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Volume	21
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.06.020
Publication status	Published - Jul 2020

Keywords

CARE
COVID-19
DEMENTIA
HEALTH
LONELINESS
compliance
dementia
family
guideline
policy
LONG-TERM-CARE
PEOPLE

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10.1016/j.jamda.2020.06.020

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Cite this

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title = "Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being",

abstract = "Objectives: To prevent and control COVID-19 infections, nursing homes across the world have taken very restrictive measures, including a ban for visitors. These restrictive measures have an enormous impact on residents' well-being and pose dilemmas for staff, although primary data are lacking. A Dutch guideline was developed to cautiously open nursing homes for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports the first findings on how the guideline was applied in the local context; the compliance to local protocols; and the impact on well-being of residents, their family caregivers, and staff.Design: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted.Setting and Participants: In total, 26 nursing homes were permitted to enlarge their possibilities for allowing visitors in their facility. These nursing homes were proportionally representative of the Netherlands as they were selected by their local Area Health Authority for participation. At each nursing home, a contact person was selected for participation in the current study.Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of questionnaire, telephone interviews, analyses of documentation (ie, local visiting protocols), and a WhatsApp group.Results: Variation in local protocols was observed, for example, related to the use of personal protective equipment, location, and supervision of visits. In general, experiences were very positive. All nursing homes recognized the added value of real and personal contact between residents and their loved ones and indicated a positive impact on well-being. Compliance with local guidelines was sufficient to good. No new COVID-19 infections were reported during this time.Conclusions and Implications: These results indicate the value of family visitation in nursing homes and positive impact of visits. Based on these results, the Dutch government has decided to allow all nursing homes in the Netherlands to cautiously open their homes using the guidelines. More research is needed on impact and long-term compliance. (C) 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.",

keywords = "CARE, COVID-19, DEMENTIA, HEALTH, LONELINESS, compliance, dementia, family, guideline, policy, LONG-TERM-CARE, PEOPLE",

author = "Hilde Verbeek and Gerritsen, {Debby L.} and Ramona Backhaus and {de Boer}, {Bram S.} and Koopmans, {Raymond T. C. M.} and Hamers, {Jan P. H.}",

year = "2020",

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language = "English",

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pages = "900--904",

journal = "Journal of the American Medical Directors Association",

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Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis : A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being. / Verbeek, Hilde; Gerritsen, Debby L.; Backhaus, Ramona et al.

In: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, Vol. 21, No. 7, 07.2020, p. 900-904.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis

T2 - A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being

AU - Verbeek, Hilde

AU - Gerritsen, Debby L.

AU - Backhaus, Ramona

AU - de Boer, Bram S.

AU - Koopmans, Raymond T. C. M.

AU - Hamers, Jan P. H.

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N2 - Objectives: To prevent and control COVID-19 infections, nursing homes across the world have taken very restrictive measures, including a ban for visitors. These restrictive measures have an enormous impact on residents' well-being and pose dilemmas for staff, although primary data are lacking. A Dutch guideline was developed to cautiously open nursing homes for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports the first findings on how the guideline was applied in the local context; the compliance to local protocols; and the impact on well-being of residents, their family caregivers, and staff.Design: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted.Setting and Participants: In total, 26 nursing homes were permitted to enlarge their possibilities for allowing visitors in their facility. These nursing homes were proportionally representative of the Netherlands as they were selected by their local Area Health Authority for participation. At each nursing home, a contact person was selected for participation in the current study.Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of questionnaire, telephone interviews, analyses of documentation (ie, local visiting protocols), and a WhatsApp group.Results: Variation in local protocols was observed, for example, related to the use of personal protective equipment, location, and supervision of visits. In general, experiences were very positive. All nursing homes recognized the added value of real and personal contact between residents and their loved ones and indicated a positive impact on well-being. Compliance with local guidelines was sufficient to good. No new COVID-19 infections were reported during this time.Conclusions and Implications: These results indicate the value of family visitation in nursing homes and positive impact of visits. Based on these results, the Dutch government has decided to allow all nursing homes in the Netherlands to cautiously open their homes using the guidelines. More research is needed on impact and long-term compliance. (C) 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

AB - Objectives: To prevent and control COVID-19 infections, nursing homes across the world have taken very restrictive measures, including a ban for visitors. These restrictive measures have an enormous impact on residents' well-being and pose dilemmas for staff, although primary data are lacking. A Dutch guideline was developed to cautiously open nursing homes for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports the first findings on how the guideline was applied in the local context; the compliance to local protocols; and the impact on well-being of residents, their family caregivers, and staff.Design: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted.Setting and Participants: In total, 26 nursing homes were permitted to enlarge their possibilities for allowing visitors in their facility. These nursing homes were proportionally representative of the Netherlands as they were selected by their local Area Health Authority for participation. At each nursing home, a contact person was selected for participation in the current study.Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of questionnaire, telephone interviews, analyses of documentation (ie, local visiting protocols), and a WhatsApp group.Results: Variation in local protocols was observed, for example, related to the use of personal protective equipment, location, and supervision of visits. In general, experiences were very positive. All nursing homes recognized the added value of real and personal contact between residents and their loved ones and indicated a positive impact on well-being. Compliance with local guidelines was sufficient to good. No new COVID-19 infections were reported during this time.Conclusions and Implications: These results indicate the value of family visitation in nursing homes and positive impact of visits. Based on these results, the Dutch government has decided to allow all nursing homes in the Netherlands to cautiously open their homes using the guidelines. More research is needed on impact and long-term compliance. (C) 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

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KW - guideline

KW - policy

KW - LONG-TERM-CARE

KW - PEOPLE

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