Welcoming family and friends to our care homes | News

We are delighted that following a change in government guidance we can start to welcome back family and friends to our care homes. 

The change came into effect on 8 March 2021 and under the new rules every care home resident will be able to nominate a single named visitor who (supported by testing) will be able to visit them regularly in the care home.

Residents with the highest care needs will also be able to nominate an essential care giver. 

Summary of visiting changes;

• Every care home resident will be able to have pre-booked visits from a single named visitor for 45 minutes. They will be able to visit inside the care home provided they take a lateral flow covid test, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all other infection control measures during visits.

• Visitors and residents can hold hands if they choose to, but please be aware that any contact can increase the risk of transmission.

• These visits can take place where the home is out of a Covid outbreak and the visitor returns a negative Covid test. 

• Residents with the highest care needs will also be able to nominate an essential care giver. This person will be expected to undergo the same testing and wear the same PPE as care team colleagues. They can provide a greater degree of personal care such as washing and dressing, supporting the emotional and mental wellbeing of the resident.

• Alongside indoor visits, our care homes continue to offer pre-booked 45 minute visits to other friends or family members with arrangements such as visits in our new visitor pods, exterior accessed visitor rooms, outdoor garden patio visiting all behind substantial screens.  We also offer regular video calls using ipads and tablets in the homes and have private Facebook pages for residents and relatives to keep in touch.