Restrictions being lifted... what will it mean for care homes?

[NormaLouiseBates]

I know it's impossible to say for sure but does anyone have any thoughts on what the plans for care homes might be following the lifting of Covid restrictions?

My mum is in a nursing home that's been in "outbreak" since the end of December so I'm the only person allowed to visit her. It's exhausting, stressful and expensive (I don't drive so it costs me £30 a day in Ubers).

I don't know if I'm just being selfish though in hoping the visiting rules will be relaxed enough for my brother to be able to share the load a bit. I have to have a PCR weekly and take a LFT before every visit so what's the difference in him doing the same?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60151596

Finally!

@Vickyp1990 I've asked this and been told no, not allowed.

@StarCat2020

I Imagine once the rules are lifted we will go back to pre lockdown rules for more visitors but still with testing for each visit Sounds sensible but news is reporting end of all visiting restrictions (seems mad)

According to the BBC there will still be some restrictions in place to keep residents safe.

Have you joined Rights for Residents on Facebook the have tons of advice

According to the BBC there will still be some restrictions in place to keep residents safe
You are correct but it doesn't say what these restrictions are apart from LFTs for care staff.

On the radio they mentioned unlimited visitors, no LFTs but I don't think that can be right.

It just seems very abrupt to change all at once but what do I know?

@Nitgel

Have you joined Rights for Residents on Facebook the have tons of advice

Thank you, I will search that now.

@StarCat2020

According to the BBC there will still be some restrictions in place to keep residents safe You are correct but it doesn't say what these restrictions are apart from LFTs for care staff.

On the radio they mentioned unlimited visitors, no LFTs but I don't think that can be right.

It just seems very abrupt to change all at once but what do I know?

On the radio they mentioned unlimited visitors, no LFTs but I don't think that can be right.

Christ, I hope not. That would just be madness.

I would like to hope they would still ask every visitor to take an LFT on the day of their visit.

I would like to hope they would still ask every visitor to take an LFT on the day of their visit
Me too

My MIL’s home have had several shut down’s, in and two of those they were continuous shut down’s, so it’s obvious that it’s staff taking it in.
The staff don’t test every day, just twice a week, so I’d say visitors testing ever day is a better bet than the staff.

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

I’m still amazed at the rules care homes are making up, their blatant disregard of the wishes and preferences of residents and families, and (to a degree) family unwillingness to challenge the homes.

Well done to all here who have pushed for safe and sensible visits. (Frankly it would make more sense if homes locked down when they didnt have an outbreak, not when they’ve already got one)

If your care home is not acting appropriately please do tell your local council and your local Healthwatch - you can do this anonymously.

@StarCat2020

All care home visiting restrctns gone from Monday apparently

Where did you hear that? Radio 4 news this morning said restrictions on number of visitors would be lifted, and isolation periods cut, but certainly not all restrictions lifted. Or at least that’s what I thought it said

That's not very good. If your doing a straight swap and your both tested I really don't see the issue. This pandemic has been stressful for the families aswel and I think care homes need to to work with families not against them

Where did you hear that? Radio 4 news this morning said restrictions on number of visitors would be lifted, and isolation periods cut, but certainly not all restrictions lifted. Or at least that’s what I thought it said
On the BBC, maybe I misunderstood but apparently there is going to be no limit to the number of visitors which the banner at the bottom was selling as all visiting restrictions gone.

Please send me a virtual slap if I am wrong (as that would be deserved)

Our care home the staff test every shift

Usual sensationalist bullshit from the BBC 🙄 All restrictions have definitely not been lifted!

@Vickyp1990

That's not very good. If your doing a straight swap and your both tested I really don't see the issue. This pandemic has been stressful for the families aswel and I think care homes need to to work with families not against them

They're all very nice there but they just tell me "sorry, those are the rules" 🥺

I really feel for everyone in this situation. The government are saying life has gone back to normal, but it's far from that if a loved one is in a care home or in hospital. People are still being denied visits in hospital, even for people who are terminally ill. We went through it with my Dad, and a friend is not allowed to visit her Dad in hospital until they decide he is in his final week of life. It's inhumane.

I hate to even think this but it did strike me as "convenient" that this news suddenly got announced today when the "partytime report" is due to be released today.

Probably me being a cynical little bitch but also seems really unfair on carehomes who probably weren't informed of this news before the news informed them.

@NormaLouiseBates
Have you contacted the CQC with regard to this?

[quote StarCat2020]@NormaLouiseBates
Have you contacted the CQC with regard to this?[/quote]
I haven't no, I don't want to rock the boat you know?

I haven't no, I don't want to rock the boat you know?
I do get that but it is so wrong that they are going against the rules but then telling you that "those are the rules".

Personally I hate the fact the they are relying on the rules but they aren't following the rules.

I am sorry that this is happening to you.

@StarCat2020

I hate to even think this but it did strike me as "convenient" that this news suddenly got announced today when the "partytime report" is due to be released today.

Probably me being a cynical little bitch but also seems really unfair on carehomes who probably weren't informed of this news before the news informed them.

Quite a lot of convenient announcements recently. Presumably we’ll get more on Monday.

Sequence of events goes 1) government announcement 2) government guidelines published 3) local health authority reinterprets 4) care home receive their instructions. The whole sequence seems to take a minimum of a week.

The owner of my mother's care home has sent out a preliminary letter to the families of residents, and she has indicated that visitors will continue to be tested. She is clearly trying to strike a balance between lifting restrictions as much as possible while doing everything possible to prevent outbreaks, which seems sensible.

The last two weeks have been 3 visits a week and 3 named visitors only. Relaxed from today to include any visitors but max of 2 at a time. Hopefully carry on being tested each visit and masked, gloved and aproned still. Only allowed in their private room, not in communal areas. Quite happy with that.

I've just booked my first visit since before Christmas, they've been closed all through January. The visit has to be booked in advance, I need proof of a test, masked, visit in their own room. It's as it was before Christmas.