Members of the Rhode Island House Republican Caucus will submit legislation to address COVID-19 mandates that have denied access to individuals in hospitals, group homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and Veterans Homes.

The fundamental right to have bedside companionship and health advocacy was denied to many during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Republican legislation would balance safety with the rights of our hospitalized, elderly and disabled patients.

According to a release issued by the office of House Minority Leader Blake Filippi, the purpose of this bill is to entitle all residents of health-care facilities and group homes the opportunity to designate a support person for regular, in-person visits. The policy is designed to assist facilities in balancing disease transmission protocols with the benefits of having a loved one present during a lockdown.

“The failure for our infirmed to have in-person visits during this pandemic has real consequences,” said Filippi. “We witnessed stressful and at times terrifying experiences for our elderly and disabled when they were sequestered from their loved ones. Additional suffering occurred when patients were denied the comfort of companionship in their final moments. The stories shared by our constituents who were refused access are heart-wrenching. We believe some of this stress could be avoided with this legislation.”

“Thousands of Rhode Islanders lost loved ones in medical or assisted living settings since the onset of this virus. An overwhelming majority of the elderly who succumbed to this virus were never consoled, or were given the chance to personally say goodbye to their families, before they passed on,” said Representative Michael Chippendale. “Most other New England states and healthcare facilities implemented designated support person visitation policies early on in this pandemic. To date, over nine states have established Designated Support Person statutes in response to COVID-19. The fact the Rhode Islanders continue to be denied full access to loved ones due to the Governor’s mandates is unconscionable.”