Ocean City Nursing Home Allows Limited Visitation

OCEAN CITY, NJ — United Methodist Communities at The Shores in Ocean City is allowing limited visitors to meet their loved ones.

Gov. Phil Murphy loosened the indoor visitation guidelines for long-term care facilities in several South Jersey counties on Monday.

Residents in long-term care facilities located in regions with low to moderate COVID activity levels are allowed to have indoor visits from family, even if the resident or the family members have not been vaccinated. Masks must still be worn for all indoor visits.

Jan Carrato, a spokesperson for The Shores, said no more than two people can visit a resident at one time.

Family members can now self-schedule indoor visits with residents in both assisted living apartments and skilled nursing rooms.

“All these groups are thrilled about visitation opening up and incremental steps to resuming many pre-virus activities,” Carrato said.

Though people can visit loved ones regardless of vaccination or COVID-19 status, fully vaccinated residents can choose to have close contact, including touch, with a visitor as long as they wear a tight-fitting surgical mask.

The Shores’ associates encourage visitors and residents to follow recommended CDC guidelines for mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. Carrato said the nursing home also has infection-control staff available onsite.

“We will continue to monitor the guidelines and put in place best practices for our residents, associates and visitors,” she said.

The Shores will resume outdoor visitations as the weather warms up for residents and visitors who prefer open-air visitations.

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