Government Guidelines for Care Home Visits

[TheUnquestionedAnswer]

My mother has just been put into a care home, we don't know if temporary or permanent yet. She was discharged from hospital straight to there. The Gov guidelines state that there should be one constant visitor only, where possible. Does anyone know what the 'where possible' means? We have a complex situation where I am in SE, mother in NW, brother an hour's drive away and sister close by but not able to visit more than once a week due to looking after her husband as he requires 24 hour care. She will have to use her respite time to visit mother, meaning she isn't really getting a break either or able to do any errands she might have to do. Manager of home on holiday for next week so I can't speak to her just yet, but what we would like is for the brother and sister to share visits, otherwise mother will only have someone once a week. The visits are 4m distance in a sanitised room, gloves and masks are worn by visitor and temperature taken on entry. No other persons are present. The room is sanitised after visits. Any info would be gratefully accepted. Thanks.

I think it depends very much on the individual care home. Our care home still isn't allowing any visits.

You may find weekly visits are the norm - it's more difficult to set up the visit and manage the cleaning between visits - they're not staffed for the extra work involved.

As many people as want can visit at my mum’s care home, outside though but they slide the door right open so you feel like you are in the same room. Speak to the manager. They should have lee way and be able to support what is best for all of you.

Thanks for the replies. The care home visits are by appointment only for 30 minutes, so that they can clean between visitors. Manager on holiday until next Monday so can't do anything yet. The CQC inspection rated the home as 'Good' but caveat to say that Management needs improvement. It's all such a bloody worry.