AARP Connecticut Applauds Governor Lamont Decision to End Civil Immunity for Nursing Homes

AARP Connecticut issued the following comment in response to the February 8, 2021 announcement by Governor Ned Lamont that he will end his Executive Order granting civil immunity to nursing homes on March 1, 2021:

After eight months of pressure from AARP Connecticut, the State Long Term Care Ombudsman, and other advocates, Governor Ned Lamont announced today that he is ending his Executive Order granting civil immunity to nursing homes. The order, which has been in place since April of 2020, granted nursing homes civil immunity for “acts or omissions undertaken in good faith while providing health care services in support of the State’s COVID-19 response.” It is now set to expire on March 1, 2021.

“I am very pleased Governor Lamont has decided it is time to put nursing home residents and their families first,” said Nora Duncan, State Director of AARP Connecticut. “AARP Connecticut applauds the State’s successful efforts to prioritize nursing home residents in its vaccine rollout and thanks Governor Lamont for his decision to repeal civil immunity for nursing homes.”

After nearly a year of devastating loss, Governor Lamont’s announcement coincides with other hopeful news coming out of Connecticut’s nursing homes. The State’s decision to prioritize nursing home residents in their vaccine efforts has resulted in nearly all residents receiving their vaccine and a 70% decrease of COVID-19 deaths in recent weeks.

AARP Connecticut appreciates the difficult work that nursing homes have had to undertake during this pandemic, and we believe that most facilities have taken extraordinary measures to protect residents. There is still urgent work to be done to support nursing home residents and their loved ones, especially concerning visitation and social connection, but we celebrate the State’s successful efforts to vaccinate nursing home residents and thank Governor Lamont for his decision to end civil immunity.