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Reintroduction of care home visits

The Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport has announced the phased reintroduction of family visiting and communal activities for care home residents today (25 June).

Care homes with no Covid-19 cases or which have been Covid-19 free for 28 days will be able to allow outdoor visiting from 3 July. This phase of visiting will include a single nominated visitor, who will be required to wear a face-covering for the duration of the visit. Physical distancing, hygiene and other appropriate safety measures should also be in place.

The approach to reintroducing care home visits will be done incrementally to protect residents and staff. Further visiting options will only open when scientific and clinical advice indicates that it is safe to do so. The fourth and final phase will see controlled indoor visits and wider use of communal areas by residents.

Scottish Care welcomes today’s announcement. This is an incredibly important piece of news for residents and their families. Lockdown has been difficult for everyone, but especially for our care home residents and those with dementia who have been isolated from their loved ones.

Scottish Care advised care homes members to restrict visiting on 11 March. Some care homes have been in lockdown for more than 3 months. This wasn’t an easy decision but was one that was required as a response to the threat of Covid-19. But as lockdown continued, we recognised this was impacting on both the psychological and physiological health of our care home residents.  Residents were becoming more and more isolated and reopening care homes will allow our residents to re-establish connection and belonging.

Alongside families and loved ones, Scottish Care has been calling for the reinstatement of safe care home visiting as a resident wellbeing priority for some time and we are extremely pleased that the Scottish Government has now enabled the first step in this process.

Care Home Visiting Guidance
Letter from Cabinet Secretary
Visitor Guidelines
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Scottish Care responds to Scottish Parliament statement on the use of face masks

Today (23 June), the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport made the following statement in the Scottish Parliament regarding the use of face masks:

“Face masks will now be worn in hospitals and care homes for adults by all staff who have contact with patients or residents.

“Outpatient, day case attendances and visitors will be asked to wear a face covering.

“This new measure is designed to reduce the risk of transmission from the person wearing the mask or face covering.

“Guidance on this for Health Boards and employers will issue this week and be effective from 29 June.”

In line with existing PPE guidance, staff will be expected to wear medical grade masks for this wider use.  For visitors to care homes, this should be face coverings along the lines of what has been recommended more recently for transport and for entering other areas where physical distancing is more difficult (e.g. supermarkets).

Scottish Care welcomes this announcement, which we first called for on 29 April.  We consider it to be one of a number of important measures in protecting residents and care home workers from Coronavirus infection and spread and one which will be increasingly important as lockdown measures are eased.  

We look forward to the issuing of guidance around this extended use of face masks in health and care settings.  It will be important to consider how professional judgment can be exercised around the wearing of masks when supporting individuals with dementia, those who lip read or who are experiencing significant distress.  It will also be important to ensure that care homes can continue to access the number of masks required at a sustainable cost as demands on the supply chain are likely to increase, and we continue to be grateful to the Scottish Government for their PPE support to care services through the triage and hub system.

Scottish Care wants to see the extension of this announcement to health and care staff in the community, including in care at home settings.  These individuals are also at greater risk of infection transmission and spread, not least as visiting restrictions across the population ease.  They require recognition and consistency in PPE use between themselves and colleagues in other health and care settings and sectors.

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Friendship Through the Ages

The Indigo Childcare Group has been working on an intergenerational programme – ‘Friendship Through the Ages’. As part of this, they recently dropped off a selection of artwork from their children and families to Cartvale Care Home.

Residents and the care home manager, Jean were really appreciative of the children’s work. Photos below show residents holding up the artwork to their windows, smiling and waving.

A representative from the Indigo Childcare Group said: 

“At The Indigo Childcare Group, we recognise the huge benefits of Intergenerational interaction. We are looking forward to working with Scottish Care through our ‘Friendship Through the Ages’ programme to provide engaging, exciting opportunities for two age groups to come together and create friendships.”