nursing homes

The coronavirus pandemic has restricted many families from seeing their loved ones who live in nursing homes. But a new bill could give caregivers more access and opportunity for hands-on care.

Those who will be eligible in the next group include those over 65, those with serious health conditions, or those who work in K-12 schools.

4,856 Ohioans in nursing homes and long term care facilities have died of COVID-19, well over half of the state’s overall COVID death total. Gov. Mike DeWine has said the virus has often been brought in by staff, and yet many of those workers have not taken the vaccine.

Gov. Mike DeWine said the next phase of Ohio's coronavirus vaccine distribution is expected to begin in two weeks, but the state is still dealing with a lack of supplies and concerns about eligible recipients refusing to be vaccinated.

Most residents are taking it, but Governor DeWine says as many as 60 percent of nursing home employees are opting out.

Nursing homes across Ohio are starting to vaccinate residents and employees with the new COVID-19 vaccine. Pleasantview Care Center in Parma started vaccinating today, and Gov. Mike DeWine stopped there Friday morning to watch via livestream as the first employee received a shot. “This is the day we have been waiting for since this pandemic started,” DeWine said.

Employees at many facilities also say there is not enough personal protective equipment.

Families are encouraged to enjoy holiday visits in other ways to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Ohio's nursing homes are struggling to keep the virus out of their facilities. Wayside Farm Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Cuyahoga Falls Administrator Matthew Pool talks about the challenges of navigating an outbreak.

Workers in nursing homes and the unions that represent them raise concerns with not having enough proper personal protective equipment to safely do their jobs during the pandemic.