The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on New York’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with all visitors now required to test negative for COVID before entry. A number of families and nursing home officials say the supply of rapid tests needed to meet regulations hasn’t been adequate.
Pat Muir, whose 90-year-old father lives in a Rochester nursing home, said she has had to resort to obtaining her own rapid tests when the facility is in short supply, according to WHEC.
“They told us that if we come and we haven’t tested that if they have a test available we can use that but they really want families to make every effort to get a test in the community,” said Muir.
That means Muir is paying out-of-pocket for most tests, which can get expensive quick.
The Department of Health issued an advisory on January 12, 2022 to nursing homes reminding them to provide rapid tests at the facility to visitors who haven’t been able to obtain their own within the required timeframe.
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