Care home visitor breakthrough 'fantastic news' after 'incredibly hard time' for residents and staff
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News that care home residents could see up to three visitors from two households outdoors from Monday has been warmly welcomed by Age Scotland, the national charity for older people.
It means that a care home will be able to permit the expansion of visiting if they have been Covid-free throughout the pandemic or if all affected residents have fully recovered and no residents or staff have had symptoms for 28 days.
The home must also be actively participating in weekly staff testing. There will be strict criteria and infection control measures.
Age Scotland says that residents’ mental health and loneliness levels will be significantly improved by more face to face contact with their loved ones. It will also be of huge relief to family members who, at best, have only had one designated visitor or have been wholly reliant on video or voice calls to check in on their wellbeing and have a chat.
Adam Stachura, Age Scotland's head of policy and communications said: “It’s fantastic news that more people may now be able to visit loved ones living in care homes. For months, residents have been coping and responding to coronavirus restrictions with extremely limited contact from family and friends, many doing so in semi-isolation, which has had a significant impact on their mental and physical health as well as increasing their levels of loneliness.
“The benefits to residents’ wellbeing after being able to see and interact with one visitor has been clear for all to see so for them this expansion can’t come soon enough. Now they may be able to see more of their children and grandchildren which will be a tremendous boost to them all.
“It’s been an incredibly hard time for care home residents and staff, who have very much been on the front line of this pandemic, and while safety for all concerned is paramount these measures may bring with them a return to some kind of much-needed normality for those who really need it.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "This has been, and continues to be, a very challenging time for care home residents, their families and staff. Care homes are first and foremost people’s homes and we are committed to reintroducing measures that allow residents to connect with their family and friends. But this must be done safely and with precautions.
“Progress has been made since we reintroduced one designated outdoor visitor earlier this month, and I am pleased the clinical advice is now that care homes that meet the strict criteria can now allow residents to have up to three outdoor visitors from no more than two households.
“It is important that we continue to monitor this situation and that all changes within care homes happen incrementally and with real caution to protect residents and staff.
“At this point in time clinical advice is not to restart indoor care home visiting, but to ensure the necessary plans are in place to move to this as soon as safe to do so. This is being continually monitored and I hope we can give a further update on this in the coming weeks.
“We are also working to identify the necessary steps needed to restart communal activity within care homes and to reintroduce external outings by residents. This is a complex piece of work and we will of course include key partners in this.”
Information about the expansion and criteria is available from the Scottish Government here.
