Care home visits fear

FAMILIES may not see their loved ones in care homes in time for Christmas unless more is done to arrange safe visits.

Despite new rules to allow relatives to take quick Covid tests before visits, Age UK warned that the process is “stalling”.

The charity found that 70 per cent of people have still not seen their relatives in care homes since the start of the pandemic.

The study found many in care homes may not be reunited with their nearest and dearest by Christmas, as the Government has pledged. Age UK said it was calling on all those working in social care, the care homes and public health directors to ensure care home visits “got going again”.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Our new report demonstrates a depth of suffering among all those care home residents and families kept apart by the virus that’s tough to read about, let alone experience.

“Meeting their loved ones again is the Christmas present many older people in care homes and their families crave.”