The Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges to the way we all our lives and, arguably none more so that those living and working in residential care homes.
We are proud of our response to Covid-19. Our top priority has been – and will always be – to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents.
However, we recognised very early on, that the mental wellbeing of our residents is also paramount.
As such, we took extraordinary measures to ensure that our residents were not cut off from their loved ones or deprived of much needed social interaction.
Thanks to the dedication of our hard-working staff and meticulous procedures, we were able, throughout the pandemic, to facilitate family visits.
All residents have been fully vaccinated and have also been offered boosters.
We regularly test staff, residents, and visitors, in line with current guidance.
Whilst visits are actively encouraged, we have put in place a number of safeguards. Wherever possible and, weather allowing, we encourage visits to take place outside.
However, we realise that during the winter months and in inclement weather this is not practical. We ensure our indoors spaces are well ventilated, and all surfaces are sanitised regularly.
Visitors are required to be fully vaccinated in order to visit our homes.
We also require visitors to take an LF test on the day they plan to visit and provide evidence of a negative result when entering our homes. If a visitor does not have access to an LF test at home, one can be completed with assistance from a member of our team, upon arrival.
Additionally, all visitors must wear a face mask, ensuring it covers both the nose and mouth at all times, when visiting our homes.
We encourage physical contact to be kept to a minimum. Physical contact like handholding between visitors and residents is acceptable if handwashing protocols are followed. Close personal contact such as hugging is a higher risk although recent research suggests that brief contact between people who have received two or more vaccine doses presents a lesser risk.
Prior to the pandemic our homes received regular visits from entertainers, singers and local groups.
We have sadly made the decision to currently pause non-essential visits but hope to bring these back, as part of our regular programme of resident activities, as soon as it is safe to do so.
On arrival, our new residents isolate in their room for two weeks to protect the health and wellbeing of our other residents.
If a resident has an appointment outside the home, for example to attend hospital, we conduct daily LFT testing for one week after returning to the home.
Prior to the pandemic, each of our two homes arranged regular social visits for our residents. Visits to the local shops, church, cinema and day trips further afield, including the seaside, are usually part of our rich and varied activities programme.
Sadly, for the time being we have paused these activities outside our homes for the wellbeing of our residents but as soon as it is safe to do so we plan to reintroduce these visits and trips to our events calendar.
