Nursing homes still not allowing visitors.

[Toddlerteaplease]

My friend is in a nursing home and I'm his only visitor. They stopped visiting just before Christmas and are yet to restart it, because one member of staff has tested positive. Are most homes adopting such a hardline rule?

If the home has two or most cases within a 14 day period then this is regarded as an "outbreak". However every resident should be allowed one visitor (known as an essential visitor) even during an outbreak. There is no reason residents should not have at least one visitor - whether the home has an outbreak or not. With no outbreak there should be no limit to the number of visitors (as long as ppe / testing etc is followed). Push back on the nursing home, this does not sound appropriate and the needs of the residents are not being considered.

Ours is, and I’m having a struggle getting myself established as an essential visitor. I’ve overcome the argument that im not giving him physical care and have sent a long and firm letter to the manager which she’ll read on her return from leave tomorrow.

From what I understand, it's the staff who are positive, not the residents.

The two cases can be residents, staff, or a mixture. It's ridiculous that the needs of our residents mental well being is being ignored. The rest of society can continue with life. Those in care homes are still locked up. Owners and managers are frustrated with the mixed messaging and most homes want visitors in, but our guidelines are ambiguous in outbreak situations. But.... in summary.... the rules are very clear, even in an outbreak situation each resident should still be allowed one visitor. So no homes should have a blanket ban.

DM is in a care home and visits are no longer restricted but you have to book a slot and due to the number of residents this means one visit per week maximum if you’re lucky. Care home manager just says it’s rules from above and nothing to do with me. All I know is I still can’t see my mum more than once a week and if I see her my siblings can’t. Still seems very unfair and restricted to me.

Homes can pick and choose their rules. It's very frustrating.

DFils home has been in lockdown since before Xmas and I took extra training and registered as an essential caregiver so I can go in and see him and have videocalls with the family. Every 2 weeks the home do pcr tests and since Xmas at least 1 member of staff has tested positive so they cant reopen to visitors more widely. Having lost 2 family members to covid last year I can understand their need to protect their most vulnerable residents - and their frustration that this situation is still ongoing!!!