Visiting Care Homes – The Latest Guidance

10th August 2020

Looking forward to visiting a loved one in a care home? Read the latest guidance on how these visits are going ahead and how you should prepare yourself for it.

Care homes are now able to create a policy that allows limited visits, supported by comprehensive risk assessments by the local director of public health along with their authorities. Policies are for each specific care home and will be largely influenced by the state of infection in their local community.

So what can you expect?

Without a doubt all visitors should be encouraged to wear a face covering. What is often missed here is that to make this an effective barrier, you must wash your hands before putting the covering on and taking it off. Depending on the reason for visiting, you may also need to wear further PPE, such as an apron and gloves.

When deciding on the location of the visits, providers will be expected to consider outdoor settings where access can be made without entering a shared building.  An attempt should also be made to limit visits to one constant visitor per resident. Although this may result in difficult decisions, it will help reduce the risk of infection.

The track and trace system should be in place at each provider and it’s recommended that prior to visiting, you call the care home and book an appropriate date – impromptu visits should not be allowed.

View the full guidance here.

Want the latest on all things PPE?

Whether you’re in social care or home care, find out the latest on how to work safely in both of these settings below:

Home Care help

Social Care help 

NHS Health at Home

While we need to maintain social distancing wherever possible, you can now access a number of health and care services from the comfort of your own home. If you have a smartphone, computer or tablet, you’ll be able to:

• “order repeat prescriptions
• contact your GP
• find out about dental treatment
• manage long-term conditions
• maintain your mental and physical wellbeing”

List taken directly from https://www.nhs.uk/health-at-home/

Want more information? Visit NHS Health At Home hub here.

Information taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes & https://www.nhs.uk/health-at-home/