PROBE INTO SINGING AT CARE HOME
A CARE home that stages karaoke singalongs for OAP residents is being probed by care watchdogs for breaching corona rules.
The Wallace View Care Home in Stirling has been staging singing sessions with a microphone passed round residents to sing into.
But the Care Inspectorate is now investigating – as the singalongs are banned under coronavirus rules.
One anxious relative told the Daily Record they have made “numerous” calls to privately run home raising concerns about the singing sessions’ potential to spread the virus.
Singing is in breach of lockdown rules in care homes, with the Scottish Government stating that “organised group singing activities should not take place”.
The whistleblower said: “The care home has been having a regular live singer with full PA and microphones every week since lock down began.
“The singer is seen on Facebook passing her microphone between staff and residents and cuddling into the residents.
“There is no social distancing and no facemasks. It was highlighted to staff who refused to do anything about it.
“These residents are having their lives needlessly put in danger because of this.”
The relative reported what was happening to Stirling Council.
But an environmental health officer replied in a letter saying she
believed the care home was “doing everything practicable and reasonable to prevent transmission”.
The officer also wrongly stated: “At present there is no guidance prohibiting care homes from providing in-house entertainment.”
However, there is a guideline in the Scottish Government document Implementing the Staged Approach to Enhancing Wellbeing Activities and Visits in Care Homes which states: “Note, organised group singing activities should not take place, for infection prevention and control reasons.”
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate stated: “Concerns have been raised with us about this matter at this care home and we are following this up with the care service. If all guidance is not fully adhered to, we will not hesitate to take action to protect people and keep them safe.”
The care home is owned by Countrywide Care. No-one from Wallace View or Countrywide Care returned calls asking for comment.