Reunited at last! Families allowed indoor care home visits ‘in weeks’
FAMILIES will be allowed to make indoor visits to loved ones in care homes again within weeks as Scotland takes its first step out of lockdown.
Ministers have confirmed two specified relatives or friends will be permitted to visit residents once a week from early March.
But they must wear PPE and have been ‘strongly encouraged’ to have a negative coronavirus test on site.
It follows increasing calls from families to allow them to visit vulnerable relatives after almost a year of restrictions.
All residents have now received the first dose of the vaccine and the latest data shows that Covid deaths in care homes among older people are falling.
Full guidance will be issued on Wednesday, but it is believed ‘close contact’, such as hugging and kissing, will still not be allowed.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman yesterday said visits would resume to prevent ‘worsening physical and mental health’ of residents.
She added: ‘Care home staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support continued contact between residents and their loved ones but these restrictions have been hugely challenging for them, as well as for care home staff and colleagues.
‘We deeply regret the deaths and other harm caused by coronavirus in our care homes, but we also recognise the harm caused to the wellbeing of residents and families as a result of an inability to see those they love.’
Ms Freeman said additional safety measures would be put in place and called on relatives and residents to remain ‘vigilant’ against the virus.
Last night Cathie Russell, whose mother Rose Hamilton is in a care home, said she was looking forward to being with her again. On behalf of the Care Home Relatives Scotland group, she added: ‘We look forward to working with care home providers, public health and oversight teams to ensure that the new guidance allows residents to enjoy meaningful contact with their closest relatives and friends once more. It has been a very difficult year. The deepest ties of love are important and we can never thrive without them.’
Opposition parties welcomed the move but sounded a note of caution, adding they would be keeping an eye on the situation to see that the promise was kept. Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘This will be greeted with an overwhelming sense of relief by families who have loved ones in care homes.’
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie said: ‘The opportunity for families to once again be together will be a great emotional relief.’
Some homes have had blanket bans in place since last March, putting a number of elderly and vulnerable people at risk of death from loneliness and isolation.
At present, families can see each other only through a window, glass screen or outdoors because of tightened lockdown rules.
The new guidance will allow two relatives or friends to visit once a week – more than the single relative being allowed in England.
The Scottish Government expects all care homes to ‘have embraced the guidance’ by mid-March.
It comes as latest National Records of Scotland figures show a 62 per cent reduction in the rate of Covid deaths in care homes in the past three weeks.
And care homes last week accounted for a smaller proportion of Covid deaths than at any time since March last year.
So far, 99.9 per cent of care home residents have received their first dose of the vaccine, as well as 92 per cent of care home staff.
Donald MacAskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said: ‘We are committed to supporting staff and managers, residents and family, to make sure that these guidelines succeed in their aim of reconnecting individuals. We [will] support those who may still be anxious.’
‘Great emotional relief after year of separation’