‘Torture’ of care home OAPs still denied visits
ELDERLY Scots are suffering ‘complete torture’ as care homes continue to enforce draconian restrictions on the numbers and frequency of visitors.
New figures show that fewer than a quarter of care homes are allowing residents daily visits.
Across Scotland, Covid restrictions have been almost completely scrapped but, according to campaigners, freedoms are not being passed on to care home residents.
Guidance from the Scottish Government allows indoor visits, with hugging and hand-holding.
But many care providers are taking a hyper-cautious approach, including restricting visitors and imposing ‘lockdowns’ in homes if staff or residents test positive.
Last night, charity Age Scotland’s chief executive Brian Sloan said: ‘We must get much more consistency in how guidance, known as “Open with Care”, has been adopted by care homes. If they need more support to do so from the Scottish Government, their health and social care partnership, or Care Inspectorate, then that should happen as a matter of urgency.’
Daily indoor visiting is now allowed, but not all homes are making it possible, even when there are no Covid cases.
Of the 1,043 care homes that reported on visits, just 241 are allowing daily visits, and 14 only permit essential and outdoor visits. Last night, Cathie Russell, of Care Home Relatives Scotland, said: ‘Many places are banning family again due to outbreaks and positive tests, and our members are literally dreading the next few weeks as the number of positive cases increase.’
The group is campaigning for Scottish Government legislation giving nominated relatives or friends the same rights as carers.
Mrs Russell added: ‘We are a year on, and that’s still not happened.
They told us yesterday they’re still discussing it with public health, but guidance for essential care-giving relatives, regardless of lockdown level, is already in place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland we’re still locked out.
‘When residents go to hospital for a few days, they’re locked in a room for 14 days on return with no family able to come and see them.
‘That is happening to the same people time after time – locked up 24/7 in a small room. It’s complete torture. My mum died last month. I miss her so much, but I am actually relieved I won’t get that email telling me they are closed again.’
Alzheimer Scotland has said it expects care homes to implement the guidance that brings families back together. Jim Pearson, the charity’s director of policy and practice, said: ‘Alzheimer Scotland has written to the Scottish Government for clarification around what restrictions continue to apply within care home settings.’