The Case for Creating Connections in the Lives of Older and Disabled Adults in a Post Covid World

In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid(CMS) issued a broad rule that allowed nursing facilities to restrict visitation of families, friends, and non-essential healthcare personnel to residents for their own health and safety. In March 2022, CMS issued a rule that completely rescinded the earlier rule. Facilities can no longer restrict visitation to residents except in very rare cases. This huge change in the rule is a recognition that people’s overall well-being is seriously impacted when they do not have connections with others. This session looks at the very real challenges in creating connections between and with older and disabled adults. It provides ideas to foster connections both face to face and virtually. It looks at the online world and offers suggestions that can be useful but also that can protect older and disabled adults from predators.