Care home restrictions.

Proudtocare98542 · 2021-12-11T17:01:57+00:00

Sad to read more restrictions for care homes. I work in a care home and every single resident has had a booster and all our staff have too. We get PCR tested every week and lft twice a week, if a positive staff member or resident then its everyday, qll visitors have to have a lft before they can enter, they have to see resident in their room, full PPE. Sadly most residents don't have any visitors but for the ones that can it's really sad. We have had a couple isolated resident cases over last few months and they had no symptoms. I really hope they don't end up locking care homes again :-(

Sunsetsupernova · 11/12/2021 17:03

How does it work for residents who go to family for Christmas Day? Not an overnight, just out for a few hours for Christmas dinner. Will that still be allowed?

thanksamillion · 11/12/2021 17:07

I'm really fed up about it. My mum went into a home in September and I've only been able to visit once because we live the other side of the country and I've had four attempted visits thwarted because we've had covid in the house. We've now all had it and are meant to be going the day after boxing day, but now it's looking like we won't be able to. She has my Dad and a couple of friends who go on a rota so she has a visit nearly every day and I don't want to oust them because I can't visit regularly. I guessed something like this would happen which is why I've been desperate to get over there.

Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:08

@Sunsetsupernova

How does it work for residents who go to family for Christmas Day? Not an overnight, just out for a few hours for Christmas dinner. Will that still be allowed?

I don't know but when a resident goes out for a couple hours now, they have to be tested for 10days in a row, even if they go for a hospital appointment. Not sure if they will be able to go out anymore, I hope so. Hardly anyone does though. Most residents don't have any visitors and the ones that did before covid, a lot of them don't anymore :-(

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Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:12

@thanksamillion

I'm really fed up about it. My mum went into a home in September and I've only been able to visit once because we live the other side of the country and I've had four attempted visits thwarted because we've had covid in the house. We've now all had it and are meant to be going the day after boxing day, but now it's looking like we won't be able to. She has my Dad and a couple of friends who go on a rota so she has a visit nearly every day and I don't want to oust them because I can't visit regularly. I guessed something like this would happen which is why I've been desperate to get over there.

That's so sad. I'm so sorry. All the staff really miss having visits from family. We use to have visitors come and go. We aren't even allowed to make a family member a cup of tea now!!

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Sunsetsupernova · 11/12/2021 17:12

Gosh that’s a lot of testing! That sounds quite traumatic for my family member with dementia who won’t even remember their trip out by the following day. It’s so difficult to know what to do for the best

Needdoughnuts · 11/12/2021 17:14

Heartbreaking. My mum is highly anxious and claustrophobic in her care home. We were going to take her for a walk tomorrow but I'm not sure we'll be allowed now. We were about to ask for a risk assessment re bringing her to our house Christmas day but fear that will not be happening either. Very sad, she probably won't see another Christmas. ☹️

Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:16

@Sunsetsupernova

Gosh that’s a lot of testing! That sounds quite traumatic for my family member with dementia who won’t even remember their trip out by the following day. It’s so difficult to know what to do for the best

We are tested so much! I don't think even hospital staff have a pcr every week. This week I had it Tues though and hasn't come back yet so if any staff have it, it will be a bit late!

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Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:18

@Needdoughnuts

Heartbreaking. My mum is highly anxious and claustrophobic in her care home. We were going to take her for a walk tomorrow but I'm not sure we'll be allowed now. We were about to ask for a risk assessment re bringing her to our house Christmas day but fear that will not be happening either. Very sad, she probably won't see another Christmas. ☹️

I'm so sorry. Its completely unfair xx

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Purplewithred · 11/12/2021 17:25

And have the residents or their visitors been consulted at any point about any of this? Because I’m guessing they haven’t. I get that laws have to be followed, but care homes imposing their own draconian rules that are against the wishes of their residents/residents’ advocates seems completely unacceptable.

Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:28

@Purplewithred

And have the residents or their visitors been consulted at any point about any of this? Because I’m guessing they haven’t. I get that laws have to be followed, but care homes imposing their own draconian rules that are against the wishes of their residents/residents’ advocates seems completely unacceptable.

They have to follow government policies else CQC could close them down.

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Needdoughnuts · 11/12/2021 17:29

@Proudtocare98542 can I just say thank you for the amazing job you do. It's relentless, tiring, lowly paid and thankless I imagine. My mum's home is mainly dementia patients. The staff manage to keep cheerful! I don't know how!

Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:34

[quote Needdoughnuts]@Proudtocare98542 can I just say thank you for the amazing job you do. It's relentless, tiring, lowly paid and thankless I imagine. My mum's home is mainly dementia patients. The staff manage to keep cheerful! I don't know how! [/quote]
I've been doing it for 3 years now. Use to work HR so totally different but I do love it, even though its by far the toughest job I've ever done. Pay and working conditions definitely need improving though in the care sector.

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Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 11/12/2021 17:38

[quote Needdoughnuts]@Proudtocare98542 can I just say thank you for the amazing job you do. It's relentless, tiring, lowly paid and thankless I imagine. My mum's home is mainly dementia patients. The staff manage to keep cheerful! I don't know how! [/quote]
I work on the dementia unit too, I love them like they're my own family, I bet your mums I very good hands X

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Needdoughnuts · 11/12/2021 17:39

❤️

Onetraumaatatimeplease · 11/12/2021 17:41

@Proudtocare98542 I also work in a care home in the kitchen. At this time of year I'd normally be finalising Christmas dinner numbers (we usually have families in for Christmas dinner) but this year, and last year has been zero. Can't speak for any other home but none of our residents can go out on Christmas Day. It's very sad for all involved, including the staff. But I will say, this isn't the management imposing 'draconian rules' it's government policy. We really are damned if we do damned if we don't. Comments like the pp really aren't helpful at this stage.

vodkaredbullgirl · 11/12/2021 17:52

Again care home's will be blamed for not letting more family visit.

Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 12/12/2021 10:06

[quote Onetraumaatatimeplease]@Proudtocare98542 I also work in a care home in the kitchen. At this time of year I'd normally be finalising Christmas dinner numbers (we usually have families in for Christmas dinner) but this year, and last year has been zero. Can't speak for any other home but none of our residents can go out on Christmas Day. It's very sad for all involved, including the staff. But I will say, this isn't the management imposing 'draconian rules' it's government policy. We really are damned if we do damned if we don't. Comments like the pp really aren't helpful at this stage. [/quote]
Well done for all you do! We woukd cater for families at Christmas before the pandemic too. It will be so sad if families can't even visit again this year. Are you low on staff at your home? We are at the bare minimum.

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Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 12/12/2021 10:06

@vodkaredbullgirl

Again care home's will be blamed for not letting more family visit.

Yes they will. We just follow the guidelines set out.

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vodkaredbullgirl · 12/12/2021 10:13

I work in a care home myself, so know what it has been like.

Original poster

Proudtocare98542 · 12/12/2021 15:17

@vodkaredbullgirl

I work in a care home myself, so know what it has been like.

It's been hard hasn't it ..

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cobblers123 · 12/12/2021 15:28

I spoke to the care home this morning whilst visiting, about my dad being allowed out for Christmas Day at my house.

At the moment it is still ok but I am expecting things might change over the coming week so it's fingers crossed he can still come out for the day.

elliehamster · 12/12/2021 15:33

It’s cruel.

The government is being deliberately cruel to those who can’t argue or defend themselves.

2022HereWeCome · 12/12/2021 15:41

Sadly, the focus is on preserving life at all cost, rather than looking at the quality of life you are preserving. This was inevitable given the public outcry whenever someone lost their loved one through Covid - talk of life cut short or whatever - without really considering whether a life under restrictions is one worth living in some cases.

Vulnerable, frail older people in care homes will eventually die from something, but may well have lost out on some life enhancing visits activities events etc because of the covid restrictions. It's shocking really.

Shitzngiggles · 12/12/2021 16:27

@2022HereWeCome totally agree. My mum went downhill during lockdown when we were not allowed to visit. Since restrictions have been lifted she is thriving again having us all visit her. All the residents, staff and visitors are fully vaxxed, we have to take LFT's before each visit. Its doing more harm than good at this stage.
OP thank you for all you do for our loved ones. Most people do realise its the government and not the care homes that set the rules so no blame from me coming your way.