A2471

New Jersey A2471 mandates person-centered care plans for long-term care residents and establishes visitation rights.

New Jersey A2471 requires long-term care facilities to develop person-centered care plans for residents and ensures residents can designate essential caregivers for visitation during emergencies or infectious disease outbreaks. Essential caregivers must follow facility visitation policies, and facilities must not impose stricter infection control protocols on caregivers than on employees. The Department of Health is tasked with ensuring compliance with these provisions. The bill aims to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation experienced by residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.