New care home visiting restrictions

[DuesToTheDirt]

Anyone else expecting their Christmas visiting to be curtailed following today's announcement on care home visits? There will now be a maximum of three (nominated) visitors for each resident. I haven't seen any comment on this, and am waiting to see what the care home will do.

Four of us (me, DH and two children) were expecting to visit my mum over Christmas. It is a long way, so we don't get to see her very often, and we were planning to go down, stay overnight, and do some visits over two days. Recent restrictions have meant visiting max 2 at a time, so last time we went into the home in relays, and took her our for lunch, and I was hoping we could do the same this time.

Now I'm thinking it may be just me that can go in and see her, as there is also my brother who will want to visit, and her local friend, which takes us to three. The home does have a sealed pod in the garden, so I'm hoping the others can at least visit using the pod.

Yeah, I know we all have to be careful of covid, but it really sucks.

Just got an update from the home, clear as mud. We are advised to avoid taking residents to out to indoor places such as cafes and restaurants, but a) it may be the only way we can all see her and b) it will be freezing outside, and c) "avoid" - what does that mean anyway? Can we or can't we?

And no mention of using the outdoor pod, though it's a general letter from the care home group and maybe not all of them will have pods. I'll give them a few days to crystallise what is happening and then phone.

You can find the updated guidance on care home vists here

www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes

Any care home that is telling you they do not have it is really badly managed.

You can have three visitors plus a “designated carer”. So the way around this for a family of four is to make one of the adults the “designated carer”. It involves a lot of testing but it is not hard. The whole thrust of the guidance is to ensure that visits can still take place while recognising the increased risks from Omicron for a vulnerable group of people.

And a really important aspect of the guidance is this:

“If visitors feel a care home is not implementing this guidance properly, in the first instance, they should speak to the care home management. All health and social care service providers must have a complaints procedure that explains how to make a complaint.

If the care is funded or arranged by a local council then they should be contacted about the issue.

If the issue has not been resolved then visitors should complain to the CQC”

Genuinely, I think many care homes will find themselves understaffed and overwhelmed this festive season.

My friend has just texted me to say her DParents’ care agency has had to declare it cannot operate for the next three weeks because of staff shortage and illness. Her wider family are all now involved with providing cover.
Adding visitors into the mix might be a step too far for many homes. Who would be a carehome owner right now?

@HeatonGrove

You can find the updated guidance on care home vists here

www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes

Any care home that is telling you they do not have it is really badly managed.

You can have three visitors plus a “designated carer”. So the way around this for a family of four is to make one of the adults the “designated carer”. It involves a lot of testing but it is not hard. The whole thrust of the guidance is to ensure that visits can still take place while recognising the increased risks from Omicron for a vulnerable group of people.

Wouldn't work for us as a family of four to be 3 + designated carer. There are other family and friends who want to visit, and live much closer, so if we were the only nominated people that would exclude everyone else.

Another email today from the home, saying all visits cancelled.

That's not right unless there is covid in the home. None of our visiting has been stopped, 1 designated carer and 3 other.

@vodkaredbullgirl

That's not right unless there is covid in the home. None of our visiting has been stopped, 1 designated carer and 3 other.

No further information as yet...

Is anyone challenging the restrictions at their homes? I've read the government guidelines and they read very much that visits are very important, but need to be made as safe as possible.
My dad 's home is taking the 3 designated visitors too far in my view, by saying we must include the children in this (all under 4), so we have to choose 1 grandchild.
My dad is in a courtyard room, and we were told that in the event of a lockdown, we would be able to 'whizz through' the entrance and activity room out into the courtyard, so we could still do window visits.
They have gone back on this, and said no to the children going through so they can see him through the window, so he faces the prospect of not seeing them for months. Again.
They don't have a visiting pod, or anything to facilitate visiting.
I'm emailing the home manager but wondered if anyone was thinking of complaining and challenging the rules in place?

I want to complain but the home is in a group so I would complain to the head office rather than the management and also I would attempt to do it anonymously- I don’t know quite how, but I would fear repercussions for my grandma otherwise. It’s all very sad. x

My Mum's care home went into precise measures Tuesday due to 2 staff testing positive. No visits allowed and we were told residents were all shielding in their rooms. I'm so upset and worried as I know how confused she will be. No idea if we will get to see her at Christmas either. When it does reopen it will be 1 essential carer and 3 nominated visitors. LFTs for every visit plus a pcr weekly. I thought the guidance meant that essential care givers could still visit even during an outbreak but apparently not.

should say emergency measures!

Dd is waiting to see if she can visit her dad , I’m expecting them to say no .

@mrshoho

That reaction completely ignores the most recent government regulations which clearly state that visits should still be allowed during an outbreak. Full guidance above. Relevant bit is:

*every care home resident should be supported to have an identified essential care giver (in addition to their named visitors) who may visit the home to offer companionship or help with care needs – essential care givers should be able to visit inside the care home even during periods of outbreak affecting the care home

during an outbreak, care providers should also continue to offer visits in well-ventilated spaces with substantial screens, visiting pods or from behind windows – rooms should be left to ventilate with external doors and windows open between uses wherever possible, while aiming to maintain a comfortable temperature for residents and visitors*

I can see that some facilities may not physically be able to offer general visits in pods to bed bound residents. But they have no excuse for not allowing the essential carer. So I would definitely query this, in writing, with the home. If you have no joy report it to the CQC.

That's what I thought @HeatonGrove. They are not differentiating between visitors and essential care givers at all. I was going to call tomorrow anyway to see how she is so I will ask again.

@mrshoho

I hope they let you in. This is so distressing for residents who depend on family visits. And it was the outcry from families last year, when visits were not allowed during outbreaks that led to the guidance being changed this time round.

I can understand why families do not want to complain to the homes because it can be awkward. But if we do not complain when the guidance is not followed, the homes have no incentive to implement it. I think they are all very sensitive about their CQC ratings though, so making it clear you will go to the CQC if your complaint is not resolved is worth while.

And if families do not complain, who is there to act as a voice for what is probably the most vulnerable group of people in the country?

Yes you are right @HeatonGrove. It's the worry about being seen as troublesome but as you say the guidelines are there for the benefit of the relatives. Thank you for replying as your post gave me the push and I've just sent an email to the manager to ask for clarification.

@mrshoho

Hope it works out for you.

oops that should have said benefit of the residents! Thanks again

We already a formal conplaint against my dad's home. We thought it was all resolved, but I have written an email asking for classification of their rules. Its the 4th room change my dad has had since he moved in 2 years ago (entirely on the home) and we only agreed to this one as they had said the children would still be able to do window visits.
I'm so afraid for his mental health if he can't see them. And theirs too, to be honest. My eldest already had a year without her beloved grandad and she's only 4.

Unexpected surprise. Got in to see my DM today for an hour with my DSis. Had to wear more PPE than ever before but we had an hour in her room where we went through her wardrobe and got rid of worn out clothes.
DM loved her home made meringue and carrot cake while we chatted

That's lovely you got to see your Mum @Mum5net. Must have been a nice surprise for her.

Sorry you are having these hassles @Helbelle75. It's so awful for their mental health and the worst part of Residential Care.

My Mum's carehome did allow 1 essential care visit but as my brother had not been in for some time I agreed that he should go. The poor residents are still all shielding in their rooms and are do lonely and confused. The poor staff are just as unhappy as they cannot physically split themselves in so many places. The residents are left to try and feed themselves. My brother said when he went in Mum was sat in her room with TV off (she can't use the controller) and her dinner left on the side. I'm so upset, I'm going to go up and just sit outside the window tomorrow. The isolation is more harmful than covid to her at this stage.

This thread is so sad. The care system makes me so angry. I managed to speak to my grandma on the phone yesterday briefly; she is not really able to hear very well so they give her the phone then walk off, I don’t know if it’s the volume or her hearing or both but it’s heartbreaking to hear her struggle. Sending you all a handhold & hoping everyone will be able to see & hold their loved ones soon xxxx

Our home is sticking to three designated visitors, but they went ahead with their Christmas free for all - short visits, no booking required, so I was able to see Dad, and DS and partner saw him on Christmas Eve.