Please find below the latest information we have on Coronavirus and our care homes.
Message to relatives – January 7, 2020
Following the news of another national lockdown and increasing cases in the general community, we wanted to provide some reassurances to relatives along with updates on testing and vaccinations.
On January 1, 2021 the Scottish Government issued guidance on enhanced testing in Adult Care Homes.
Balhousie Care Group’s window visiting update – December 22, 2020
While visitation has been suspended, there are still many ways in which you can keep in touch with your loved one. We are pleased to be able to continue offering window visits.
Message to relatives – December 21, 2020
Due to growing concerns regarding the newly identified COVID variant virus, all Balhousie Care Group homes are again temporarily closed to all visits with immediate effect and until further notice.
Indoor visiting update – December 4, 2020
Balhousie Care Group is excited to finally be welcoming relatives and loved ones back into our homes for restricted visiting with residents, starting on December 14. Indoor visits will be for one visitor per resident for up to 30 minutes and will take place in a designated area, with requirements for PPE and following our rigorous infection prevention and control procedures.
Garden visits update – November 4, 2020
Balhousie Care Group is delighted to now be accepting up to six visitors per resident from up to two households for garden and window visits at our care homes. These visits can last for up to 45 minutes once a week. In addition, our homes are bringing in measures to make outdoor visits more comfortable, including constructing gazebos, having residents remain inside for visits, and purchasing outdoor heaters and intercom systems.
Balhousie Care Group’s stance on enhanced care home visits – October 2020
On October 12, 2020 the Scottish Government announced enhanced care home visits in Scotland, including increased duration of visits and with more family and friends present. While we wholeheartedly support visits between relatives and care home residents, and recognise the positive impact these have, we strongly feel that there are still barriers to us moving ahead to relax visitation rules.
Click below for our full statement.
Care home visits update – September 29, 2020
After in-house discussion among our management and advisors, and taking into account clinical evidence on the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Balhousie Care Group has suspended in-home visits with our residents until further notice, with the exception of end of life visitation.
Garden and window visits will continue and as before are required to be booked in advance so we can safely manage the number of visitors on-site. You can do this via our online booking system or by calling the Home Manager directly.
THANK YOU for all your patience and support these last few months. We are aware that the rules surrounding care home visitation have been subject to a number of changes and we truly appreciate your understanding.
Tips on visiting your loved ones again after lockdown
Several months apart is hard for anyone – but particularly the elderly and those in cognitive decline. That’s why we’ve produced some tips for making the visit go as smoothly as possible.
Garden visits update
We are delighted to now be accepting up to two visitors per resident for garden visits at our care homes. These can last for up to 30 minutes once a week.
The threat of COVID-19 is still very real to our vulnerable and elderly. That’s why we’re following the strictest infection prevention and control measures for visitors, including the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), thermal imaging cameras to detect high temperatures, and staggered visits through an online booking system.
THANK YOU for your cooperation and support as we all continue to navigate our ‘new normal’.
A message from Balhousie Care Group on end-of-life visits – 25 May, 2020
Balhousie Care Group has been working hard to formulate measures for how to take care homes forward in the next weeks and months. From Monday May 25 we are permitting visits from relatives to loved ones who are end of life. The visits will entail rigorous risk assessment as well as thorough infection control procedures during the visits. .
Thank you’s from relatives during lockdown
We’ve been overwhelmed with the messages of support and thanks we have received from relatives during lockdown. Thank YOU for thanking us. It means a lot.
9 tips to help you and your loved one through lockdown
Staying at home is hard for everyone – but especially if you’re a caregiver to someone who’s elderly or living with dementia. Here are some tips our own professionals are using in our care homes, to help you through the lockdown.
How to see your loved ones during lockdown
We’ve provided extra tablet devices in all of our homes to ensure maximum face-to-face communication between our residents and their loved ones. Are you connected yet? If not, follow these steps:
How to Skype – tips from wikihow
How to use FaceTime – follow these steps from wikihow
How to use Zoom – tips from wikihow
Age UK also has great advice for using everything from Skype to WhatsApp. Click here for more.
Coronavirus: A message from Balhousie Care Group 09/04/2020
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.
Balhousie Care Group’s statement to relatives 11/3/2020
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL VISITORS:
Non-essential visits to our care homes are now suspended.
As you know, the health and safety of our residents is of the utmost importance to us at Balhousie Care Group. In the light of the current situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the daily changes to the government guidelines, we feel it is important for us to protect our residents and minimise the risk to them as much as possible.
For this reason, all non-essential visits to the care home are now suspended until further notice.
New Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for community and residential settings from Scottish Care 13/3/2020
13/3/2020 Social care and residential care guidance from the Scottish Government:
For common questions and advice for the general public, follow these useful links:
NHS Inform:
The facts about Coronavirus:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
What is social distancing?
NHS Scotland:
Coronavirus facts from NHS Scotland:
https://www.scot.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/
Health Protection Scotland:
https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/wuhan-novel-coronavirus/
UK Government COVID-19 guidance for employees:
Balhousie Care Group’s statement to media March 11, 2020
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: NON-ESSENTIAL VISITS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
A spokesperson for Balhousie Care Group said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents is of the utmost importance to us at Balhousie Care Group. Because of this, and in the light of the current situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are taking the precautionary measure of only allowing essential visits to our care homes. These include doctor and district nurse visits, essential deliveries and essential maintenance repairs.”
