(a) As used in this section, § 19a-535f and subsection (b) of § 17a-873, (1) “primary essential support person” means a person designated by a long-term care facility resident, or a resident representative, who may visit with the resident in accordance with rules set by the Commissioner of Public Health to provide essential support as reflected in the resident’s person-centered plan of care; (2) “essential support” means support that includes, but is not limited to, (A) assistance with activities of daily living, and (B) physical, emotional, psychological and socialization support for the resident; (3) “secondary essential support person” means a person designated by the resident, or resident representative, to serve as a backup to a primary essential support person; (4) “person-centered plan of care” means a care plan for a resident developed by a resident or resident representative in consultation with health professionals that focuses on the resident’s physical, emotional, psychological and socialization needs and includes a primary essential support person or secondary essential support person designated by a resident; and (5) “long-term care facility” means a nursing home facility, as defined in § 19a-490 or a managed residential community, as defined in § 19a-693 that provides services offered by an assisted living services agency, as defined in § 19a-490.

(b) A long-term care facility resident, or a resident representative, may designate a primary essential support person and a secondary essential support person who may visit the resident despite general visitation restrictions imposed on other visitors, provided the primary essential support person or secondary essential support person complies with any rules promulgated by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to § 19a-535f to protect the health, safety and well-being of long-term care facility residents.