NY A11092

Authorizes designated essential caregivers to visit residents at residential health care facilities during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency, with exceptions for residents in quarantine or showing COVID-19 symptoms.

Restricts visitation based on facility outbreak status: Phase Zero (active outbreak) allows 1 visit per week up to 2 hours; Phase One and Two allow up to 2 visits per week up to 4 hours; Phase Three permits regular visitation procedures.

Permits essential caregivers to assist residents with feeding, hygiene, mobility, dressing, emotional support, medication management, and communication with facility staff regarding resident needs.

Requires residential health care facilities to develop policies establishing procedures for designating essential caregivers and to work with designated caregivers to establish visit schedules accommodating both caregiver availability and resident needs.

Allows residents to designate a secondary caregiver and alternative caregiver to provide essential care when the primary caregiver is unavailable, with notice required by phone or in writing.