ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — At a round table on COVID-19 Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis again expressed his desire to reopen long-term care facilities to visitors.

But, with no plan from the state, families waiting to see their loved ones say it seems like there’s no end in sight.

Kathy Yoder told Spectrum Bay News 9 she hasn’t seen her mother, 81-year-old Betty Gee Lewis, in more than four months.

“It’s just hard to not see them and go do those things that we used to do,” Yodor said.  “You know she wants me to come have a cup of coffee with her. I can’t do that”

Her mom lives in isolation at her nursing home, Arbor Oaks at Tyrone in St. Petersburg.

81-year-old Betty Gee Lewis with her daughter and two grandsons before the COVID-19 pandemic (Kathy Yoder)

Yoder says she has always loved glitz and glamour.

“One of my mom’s favorite sayings is ‘take my picture,’” Yodor jokingly shared.

So when their roles reversed, Yodor said taking her mother to get her hair and nails done was her way of saying thank you.

“It’s my honor to do that for her,” Yodor said, while fighting back tears. She hasn’t been able to take her mom to be pampered.

To stave off the feelings of isolation, Yodor bought her a robotic cat for comfort, and also hired a caregiver to sit with her a few hours a week.  But, even so, she said her mother’s health is getting worse.

Her biggest fear?

“The fact that something could happen to her before I get to see her again,” Yodor said.  And she has the same fear.”

But Yodor said she is being strong for her mother and focusing on what they will do once they’re finally reunited.

“I will give her a big hug – probably a long hug. And she’s going to ask me when can you take me to get my hair done,” Yodor said.

“She’s made me promise her that’s the first thing I’m going to do is take her to get her hair done.”