Changes to visiting guidelines for relatives

With Scotland’s move to Level 0, and in line with the Scottish Government’s recommended visitation relaxations for care homes, we are pleased to inform you of the following changes to visitation guidelines for our care homes. These include more frequent visits both indoors and outdoors, and unlimited length of visits. The following guidelines will come into place from Monday, July 26, 2021.

  • Outdoor visits: Up to three people can visit per resident on a daily basis, and up to six can visit outside for special occasions. Due to the anticipated increase in the volume of visits to our homes, please book these via our secure online booking system. We ask that visitors maintain a one-metre distance and, as per our previous correspondence, hugging is permitted. . Children do not need to be tested.  It is not mandatory to wear a face mask, although we would encourage you to do so where possible. Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing can be done at home when coming for an outdoor visit. Relatives must provide proof of the test result. Alternatively, testing can be done at the care home.

 

  • Indoor visits: Residents can have up to two visitors four times a week. These can be different people each day and do not need to be nominated persons. Children are permitted and do not need to be tested. There is no limit to the duration of an indoor visit, which should continue to be booked via our secure online booking system.  Please note that indoor visitors will continue to take an LFD test in the home.  Face masks should continue to be worn for indoor visits. Social distancing is reduced to 1m as long as this is practicable (please talk to your Home Manager regarding individual residents’ circumstances).

As you know, the care and safety of your loved one is our number one concern and aim, and with COVID-19 still prevalent in this wider community, we ask that you help us, the rest of our residents and staff by continuing to follow sensible hygiene steps. This means regular handwashing, being mindful of your own health and possible COVID-19 symptoms, and not wearing garments below the elbow when you visit. We will continue to monitor cases number, hospital admissions, and the impact of various variants on double vaccinated clinically vulnerable individuals and will keep the visitation policy under continual review.

If you have any questions or concerns about the above, or indeed any of our policies, please don’t hesitate to talk this through with your Home Manager.  Further information and tips are available on the Relatives’ section of our website: https://balhousiecare.co.uk/coronavirus-faqs/

 

Yours sincerely

Sheilah Harvey

Head of Operations