Online visitation as an alternative to restricted visitation due to COVID-19

Abstract

The 2019 coronavirus strain (COVID-19) has resulted in serious and abrupt outbreaks in pandemic proportions. At current, most institutions geared towards persons with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) have restricted their usual face-to-face visitations so as to prevent viral transmissions; most have subsequently launched online visitations via the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as an alternative. This study aimed to examine the status of online visitations among institutions for persons with SMID. A questionnaire survey was administered to 135 public and private institutions (for persons with SMID) nationwide. The results indicated that online visitations were performed from the home, the institutions, or either through free choice. Online visitations were scheduled for either weekdays or every day of the week (in 64% of institutions), and lasted for less than 2 hours at a time (in 56% of cases). Meanwhile, the time limit for the online visitation of a family was less than 15 minutes (in 80% of institutions). Video communication applications - such as LINE, Zoom, and Skype - were frequently used. At most institutions, fewer than 30% of families received online visitations. Based on these findings, we have proposed a new concept and associated methodology for appropriate online visitations. Additionally, online visitations should not only be used as alternatives, but should be coupled with face-to-face sessions on a daily basis.