This has been an extraordinary and emotional few weeks for all of us, and I wanted to write to convey my thanks to you for your cooperation with us at this time. As we continue to do as much as possible to reduce potential exposure of your loved ones to COVID-19, I thought this was a good opportunity to set out exactly what our procedures are:

  • Suspension of non-essential visits for the foreseeable future;
  • Any resident displaying symptoms of COVID-19 is cared for on a self-isolated basis until those symptoms subside. Often our residents’ temperatures are raised due to a UTI, (unrelated) cough or chest infection, and so an elevated temperature is not in itself a cause for concern.
  • New admissions are being cared for on a self-isolated basis for seven days to ensure they do not present with symptoms;
  • Staff are using prescribed PPE while caring for self-isolated residents and when administering personal care to all residents
  • Laundering all staff tunics on-site at prescribed temperatures;
  • Staff’s temperatures are being checked at the beginning of each shift.

We appreciate that this is a challenging time for all but, as you know, the health, safety and security of your loved ones is our highest priority. It is important that we ensure that life inside the care homes continues as close to normal as possible, and to that end I am extremely proud of our care home teams for all their hard work.

As ever, we will keep you up to date with any developments regarding your loved one’s health. In the event that your family member presents with symptoms, you will be immediately informed, although it is important to reiterate that COVID-19 symptoms can be associated with other illnesses and infections. Should another resident in the home present with symptoms or test positive for COVID 19, it is not Balhousie policy to advise all families, but rest assured that the relevant Public Health authorities, the local Health and Social Care Partnership and the Care Inspectorate will be advised accordingly with the appropriate infection control procedures in place.

Please continue to make use of the extra electronic tablet devices we have put in place in each of our homes, and to write to and telephone your loved ones. Communication is highly important at this time, and we would encourage you to keep that going.

You can follow our care home news on the following social media links, by visiting our website at www.balhousiecare.co.uk and by signing up for our weekly relatives’ newsletter at  www.balhousiecare.co.uk/news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balhousiecare/

Twitter: @BalhousieCare

Instagram: balhousiecare

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Yours sincerely

Sheilah Harvey
Head of Operations