biostudies-literatureUnknownXu HNIA NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthVisitation restrictions in nursing homes were a major policy intervention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducted a systematic review of the changes in federal and state visitation policies. After the federal recommendations restricting all visitors and non-essential healthcare personnel, 31 states implemented state-wide indoor visitation bans in March and April of 2020. Federal guidance changed in September 2020 and again after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021. State visitation bans were lifted from 6/15/2020 to 11/2/2020, lasting an average of 163 days. When lifting bans, most states required that nursing homes have no resident COVID-19 cases and implement mitigation measures during the visit. Resident COVID-19 infection rates decreased by an average of 7.2 cases per 10,000 residents per week in the six weeks before state bans were lifted (<i>p</i> = .003). Large variations in state bans call for more consistent policy implementation in a future pandemic.Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society7334648251324269https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12353094biostudies-literatureChanges in Federal and State Policies on Visitation Restrictions in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.PMC12353094R01 AG087296P30 AG024832R01 AG081282R01AG081282R01AG087296P30AG024832Heston-Mullins JLi SKuo YFBowblis JRXu HGoodwin JSfalseChanges in Federal and State Policies on Visitation Restrictions in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Visitation restrictions in nursing homes were a major policy intervention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducted a systematic review of the changes in federal and state visitation policies. After the federal recommendations restricting all visitors and non-essential healthcare personnel, 31 states implemented state-wide indoor visitation bans in March and April of 2020. Federal guidance changed in September 2020 and again after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021. State visitation bans were lifted from 6/15/2020 to 11/2/2020, lasting an average of 163 days. When lifting bans, most states required that nursing homes have no resident COVID-19 cases and implement mitigation measures during the visit. Resident COVID-19 infection rates decreased by an average of 7.2 cases per 10,000 residents per week in the six weeks before state bans were lifted (<i>p</i> = .003). Large variations in state bans call for more consistent policy implementation in a future pandemic.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2026-04-16T15:08:46.065Z2026-04-07T14:12:20.048ZS-EPMC123530944015531710.1177/07334648251324269