Visiting in carehomes

[Clappingforjoy]

Can anybody help I want to know if carehomes can allow visits at thier discretion following social distance rules or as to whether the government has told them no

A gp, social worker or qualified nurse who has undergone the training can carry out the assessment.

Usually mental capacity assessments can be carried out by a trained person in the home, usually a Manager however I’ve just seen you’ve said it needs to be someone more qualified?

Would it be possible to carry it out via a webcam facility? I know it’s not the done thing but many other types of assessments are now carried out remotely via telephone or virtual meetings because of Covid. It may be an avenue to explore.

Social workers etc have been going into the home im in all through lockdown as there is a professional need.

Our assessor has said it cant be done via video call and the doctor has refused because he says he doesnt know her well enough

DS has severe autism and LD. His residential placement is technically a Care Home so, despite having much younger residents, they have had to follow all the guidelines. They have allowed us to visit since the end of May. We have to wear face masks on site but we don't socially distance from DS as it would be impossible, he doesn't understand. We stay in the family room alone with him, if we wanted to walk round the site we would have to be accompanied by a member of staff. We could take him out for a drive as long as we didn't get out anywhere but I'm hoping next time we might be able to take him to the local donkey sanctuary if they are allowing visitors.

My mums home is closed to all visitors but she is in a ground floor room and we have been allowed to see her through the window. She's got dementia, has lost her mobility and her conversation skills are almost gone, but she's clearly pleased to see us and still knows who we are. This is my biggest worry - that when we can visit normally again, she won't know us any more. Normally we'd chat away amongst ourselves when we're with her or watch TV together and feed her if it's mealtime. None of that works through a window, but at least we can see for ourselves that she's happy, safe and well cared for. I think we're very lucky we have that.

@Clappingforjoy I meant are you in England, Wales, Scotland or NI as each devolved government is taking a different stance on these matters and that might make a difference to the answer.

I'm a social worker. We've not been going in to do MCA (at the request of the homes) but could force the issue if needed (and we have on occasion). Instead we've been arming a staff member with the tools to do them so often doing them over the phone or via facetime. Only then if the result is unclear, have we forced a visit.

One carehome near me had 15 covid deaths in one day, it's no surprise they don't want anyone in!

I work in a care home. We have been allowing vista for a few weeks. Thry have booked time slots and if possible is in the garden socially distanced. We are lucky to have had no virus cases but it's getting to the stage now where we have to allow visiting for the residents mental health. We can't keep expecting them to spend the next year not seeing family and friends especially as many of them are end of life care.

If the go wont gp then maybe the court of protection can advise you what you need to do. Staff dont know patients or residents when they are first admitted and still do mca. Is it just for a one off decision anout the house or an assessment for their capacity for everything else too.

I think maybe it would be like medical treatment - professional allowed in but with PPE, and in an outside area and they would have to have a temperature check first, also a pre-booked appointment? I think contacting the home directly would be the best, explaining that it is necessary that it is done quickly, for your mother's financial wellbeing. Friends who have worked in care homes are very aware that this is significant for the people they are caring for.

In my LA it’s no visitors unless absolutely essential (I.e in person GP visit, police and social worker if someone needs a Section, nurses in for end of life care to set up syringe driver etc).

They can’t risk an entire care home being wiped out due to a visitor bringing in Covid.

Can you contact your relative’s social worker? The home should be well versed in the MCA/DoLS procedures. It’s not usually a relative that arranges this.

My MIL’s carehome allowed my husband and his sister to visit for the first time this week. Outside in the garden wearing PPE with a carer.

Is it the home saying you can’t do it or the person meant to be doing the assessment?

Is this Scotland or England? As things are run differently.
Broadly, currently yes the government and public health are making the rules for care homes to follow regards visiting and care homes must abide by them they face investigation so most will be sticking to the rules . Visiting also depends on various things, such as the previous and current covid status of the home.
At the moment they are probably correct to not allow the assessment, frustrating as it may be for you, and there's not likely at the moment to be a way for you to 'force' this if the care hone have said no.

Thing to best in mind too is that the whole purpose of opening up visiting in care homes now is to benefit residents who have been isolated for months, and the effect this is having on their mental health. This is why it is family or friends visiting only, not just opening up to random people popping in, it's been done purely to benefit the residents and the detrimental effects lockdown has had on them.

If carehomes are not happy to have someone come in to carry out capacity assessments then are they having to relax the rules around residents having capacity in the home, agreeing to be there,paying for the care and have the care given in their best interests etc.

www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/all-services/working-within-mental-capacity-act-during-coronavirus-pandemic

@lifeispassingby and snap! (Your username is exactly how I feel at present.). I must definitely know exactly how you feel.

Our adult dd lives in her own apartment in a supported living complex for young people with SLD/autism. We normally see her 3-4 times per week as she is close to home, (25 mins drive). We haven’t seen or had any contact at all since Mothers’ Day due to lockdown. Can’t even phone or FaceTime her as she is like a 3 yr old and it would be far too distressing for her to cope with purely this and us not visiting 😢.

Staff are fantastic! They phone us with updates and send us photos, cards and a lovely video. Dd asks for us constantly but seems to accept she will see us again when doctor says it is ok. It is killing us!

As I understand most normal care homes are allowing pre arranged visits so long as social distancing is adhered to. Totally useless to us!
Looks like we are stuck until social distancing comes to an end. 😢