Updated visitation guidance for nursing homes announced

The publication of the new Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) Covid19: Normalising Visiting in Long Term Residential Care Facilities (LTRCFs) has been welcomed by Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD. This guidance will come into effect on 19 July.

Covid-19 cases and outbreaks in nursing homes are now at a very low level, largely due to the positive impact of the vaccination programme. The public health advice is to restore visiting to near normal in terms of frequency of visits in those settings with a high level of vaccination of residents as quickly as possible, while also recognising the need to remain cautious as we continue to deal with the evolving risks associated with Covid-19. The guidance will be kept under continuing review as new evidence and data emerges.

The new guidance provides that: Providers should put in place the necessary measures to progress to more normalised visiting and visiting frequency as quickly as possible in line with public health guidance with no more than two visitors at any one time;

Routine visiting will no longer need to be scheduled in advance;

There is no requirement to have a list of nominated visitors;

The duration of the visit should not be limited;

Fewer restrictions will apply to residents going on outings or visits outside of the nursing home.

Visiting arrangements should continue to take account of general public health advice and the necessary infection prevention and control measures, to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of Covid-19 and protect those living in our communities. This is particularly important in the context of the increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant. This new variant poses a significant risk, in particular to those who are not yet fully protected though vaccination.

Welcoming the new guidance, Minister Butler said: “I am very pleased to be able to announce this new guidance. Nursing home staff and residents, and their friends and families have made huge sacrifices over the last 16 months. People living in nursing homes and other residential care facilities have a right to maintain meaningful relationships with people who are important to them. Visiting is an essential part of that right.

“I expect that all nursing home providers will facilitate visiting, to the greatest extent possible, in line with the new guidance, and communicate early with residents and families on a clear plan towards more normalised visiting.”