July 23, 2020

Phil Wilson Interim Executive Commissioner Health & Human Services Commission P.O. Box 13247 Austin, TX 78711-3247

Commissioner Wilson, We are aware of your efforts and your desire to allow families to visit their loved ones in health facilities and living centers. However, there is a segment of that population that is particularly vulnerable to losing their physical health, to the point of death, due to current Covid-19 visitation policies. Texas patients with memory difficulties and mental deficiencies are unable to understand their lockdown status. They cannot comprehend why they are not getting the very necessary stimulation of a visit from a loved one. Many cannot understand a virtual visit, and simply look down the hall for their loved one when they hear their voice on an electronic device. The consequences, as we are sure that you are aware, can be deadly. Hopeless depression and anxiety are quickly leading to failing physical health among these precious and vulnerable people. We have already lost too many to these policies, and more are on the way. We could relay multiple heart-wrenching stories from our constituents, but we assume that you have heard many of these types of realities. It is time to immediately move forward and put a plan into action to allow limited family visitations inside their facilities. With proper guidelines, these facilities could resume visits in a safe and socially distant environment. Additionally, we would ask that the primary family caregiver be recognized as an essential part of the residents' care team. The presence of a primary family caregiver is to be able to pick up on subtle changes, to calm the unspoken anxiety that results from their missing presence, and to continue to encourage their loved one to walk, eat, and engage in social activity that is vital to their care. Further suggestions for allowing a primary family caregiver could include:

Requiring the same expectations as a paid professional caregiver including infection control training, responsible behavior outside of the community, limiting their exposure, following all guidelines in regard to infection control and wearing face masks. The family caregiver show documentation of a Covid-19 negative test. The facility offers a designated visiting area with regulated scheduled times and 15 minutes in between visits to allow for cleaning and disinfecting. The facility limits the total number of visits in a day to maintain a low traffic flow and only allow one designated family caregiver as the essential caregiver. If at any time these guidelines are not adhered to the family member would be asked to leave the community. We will not stand to let these Texans fall through the cracks. Their life is important. The fact is this disease is not what's hurting them; it's the harmful restrictions we have in place that are. Time is of the essence, and it truly is a matter of life and death. Thank you and your team for your hard work and commitment to serve.

Respectfully,

Scott Sanford Charles Perry State Representative State Senator

SENATE MEMBERS

Brian Birdwell Dawn Buckingham Donna Campbell

Pat Fallon Bob Hall Bryan Hughes

José Menéndez Angela Paxton

HOUSE MEMBERS

Steve Allison Charles "Doc" Anderson

Cecil Bell Dwayne Bohac

Brad Buckley DeWayne Burns

Briscoe Cain

Jay Dean

Gary Gates

Cole Hefner

Ken King Matt Krause

Stan Lambert Mike Lang

Jeff Leach

Ina Minjarez Jim Murphy

Jared Patterson

Matt Shaheen John Smithee

Valoree Swanson James White

Terry Wilson John Wray Bill Zedler