Some Long Island residents were able to visit their loved ones in nursing homes for the first time in over six months Thursday.

Under new guidelines, nursing homes can allow visitors if they have not had any positive COVID-19 cases for 14 days. That's down from earlier guidelines requiring 28 days without a case.

Visitors must bring a verified negative COVID-19 test that was taken within the previous seven days. They also must undergo a health screening, wear masks and social distance.

Visitors must also be at least 18 years old, and only two visitors are allowed per resident.

Theresa McGeever Cadigan, who has a loved one in a nursing home, says the move is a step in the right direction, but Cadigan still hopes more will be done soon. She says he has only seen her father once over the past six months.

"It was wonderful to look him in the eye and tell him that we loved him. And of course he was crying, asking why we couldn't come in ... couldn't you just come in and give me a hug?" she says.

Each facility must submit a visitation plan to the Department of Health.

Vivian Zayas started Voices for Seniors after her mother died from COVID-19 inside a nursing home. She says the revised visitation guidelines are unobtainable.

"How is this going to work? It just doesn't make sense," she says.

Delores Zanchelli says the biggest issue is getting a coronavirus test - and at the same time juggling an appointment to see her mother. That's because the test and the appointment have to be within the same seven days.

"It's just another hoop that they want us to go through, as of right now I don't see it helping us at all," says Zanchelli.

Zanchelli's mother lives at a Commack nursing home. She says she used to visit her multiple times a day, but she now hasn't seen her in six months.

"I try to be positive for her, I don't want her to see me upset," she says.

Several families contacted News 12 saying the revised policy could also be costly, because the COVID-19 test may not fully be covered for them.

New York's Health Facilities Association says it is working with the state to look at common-sense policies that don't put in places hurdles.

The updated guidance will allow eligible visitation in approximately 500 of the state's 613 nursing homes.