But for thousands of nursing home residents across the United States who've been quarantining for months because of the coronavirus pandemic , hugs are a luxury they can't afford. "In March, when things shut down, one of my residents told me the only thing she missed was human touch," Becky Hudson, the lifestyle director at the facility who came up with the idea, told CNN. That's when I started thinking of ways for our seniors to be able to hug their loved ones without risking their lives." To protect vulnerable seniors, many nursing homes and assisted living centers closed to visitors early in the pandemic. Some residents were even barred from leaving their rooms to interact with others who live in the same facility.

Source: CNN December 27, 2020 11:03 UTC