Bill supports communication for seniors

Visitor restrictions are making it hard for senior living facility residents to stay in touch

Link to that on kimt dot com.// the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we communicate with each other.

That's especially true for people in nursing homes or assisted living facilities?

Where visitors aren't allowed right now.

That's why minnesota senator amy klobuchar is spearheading a bipartisan effort to make sure seniors can stay connected with healthcare providers and loved ones.

Kimt news three's raquel hellman joins us live in rochester with a look at the "access act."

And raquel?

This is an issue that hits close to home for you?xxx yes it does?

And i'll explain why in just a minute.

As you can see?

I'm standing on the other side of this window from where my camera is.

And*this is one of the ways we now have to communicate with our loved ones in nursing homes or assisted living facilities?

Where no visitors are allowed inside.

My grandma is in an assisted living facility?

And just this past sunday?

My family went there and stood outside holding signs like this one?

As the only way we could celebrate mother's day with her.

Here's a picture of all of us outside her facility.

We then took turns talking to her on the phone?

While standing on the other side of the door.

These unique and virtual visits are the new normal for spending time with anyone in these kinds of facilities.

The "advancing connectivity during the coronavirus to ensure support for seniors" act?

Known as the access act?

Aims to make these types of visits possible for everyone.xxx every day, just like you, we hear from families who are prohibited from visiting their loved ones, and these conversations are heartbreaking.

The bipartisan access act will help connect residents and loved ones by getting the needed technology into facilities so visits can happen virtually.

She says these virtual visits?

Whether it's through a phone?

Or maybe ?pad like this?

Are extra important?

Because along with visitor restrictions?

Very few inspections are happening right now?

So it's essential that residents of these facilities?

Like my grandma have some kind of connection to the outside world.

Live in rochester, raquel hellman, kimt news three./// natural sound hear resident