BRANDON CARE LTD – UPDATED VISITING GUIDANCE 31/01/22

The Government announced on the 31st January 2022 that visiting restrictions in care homes were to be lifted and the limit of only three nominated people plus an essential care giver to visit a resident was being scrapped.

We still have a Duty of Care to keep our residents and staff safe from the effects of Covid (or any other infectious disease), given that most of our residents are considered clinically vulnerable.

• We ask that all visitors will let each care home know in advance of any planned visits, so that the numbers of visitors at any one time are manageable.
• All visitors will complete a rapid lateral flow test before coming or on arrival at the home, only people with negative test results will be allowed to visit; each test is to be logged on the government reporting of test results site.

The UON for each home is: Brandon House 10167880; Sheridan House 10125912; Hillside House 10068526 this number may be required when logging the results.

• All visitors wanting access into the home will still be expected to have had at least two Covid vaccines plus a booster. If a visitor does not meet this basic criterion, they will be offered a visit in our visiting room or outside in the garden.
• All visitors must still wear face coverings whilst within the home.
• All visitors must use the hand sanitizer provided on entering the home and again on leaving, hand hygiene is still very important.
• Visiting times are no longer restricted, and residents can be taken out into the community. We would still ask you to edge on the side of caution whilst the virus numbers in our area are still considered quite high.
• If residents visit areas of high risk, they will still be expected to isolate on return, but the isolation period has been reduced to no longer than 10 days. They can be tested on days 5 and 6 and if the LFT is negative isolation can be lifted. High risk outings would include overnight stays in an acute hospital, some outpatient’s appointments, crowded venues.
• We will not be resuming offering visitors’ drinks during their visits although this will remain under review.
• If a visitor has been feeling unwell or has had known contact with an infectious person, they would advise us and not visit the homes.

It will be good to see more visiting in our homes and to see our residents going out into the community again. A return to a more “normal” home life is very welcome, albeit with an element of caution.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

The Brandon Care Management Team.