North Yorkshire care homes reopen to designated visitors – but people are asked to be ‘realistic’ as national lockdown looms
Routine visiting has been stopped at care homes and supported living schemes during October to protect residents as COVID-19 infection rates rise across the county.
It was revealed last week – prior to the announcement on Saturday of a new national lockdown to start this week – that from November 1, a designated visitor for each resident will be allowed to visit in person, subject to a set of guidelines and keeping to the rules on hygiene, physical distancing and protective equipment.
Throughout October, a task group consisting of younger and older people who live in care, parents and children of people who live in care, dementia advocates and care providers came together to share with the council how the restrictions on visiting affected them and to develop ideas as to how these issues could be addressed.
However, the window to visit loved ones could be short-lived.
Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s Director of Health and Adult Services, said: “Where it is safe to do so, and there isn’t a COVID-19 outbreak in the home, we are still encouraging all care homes to be open for one visitor for each resident.
However, we would ask residents, family and friends to be patient with care providers who, given expected news of a national lockdown, may face an unprecedented demand for visits in the next few days.
He added: “It will be up to each home to make decisions and we need to be realistic about what can and cannot be done. We will continue to support care providers, residents and families and friends, to try and make the best amidst the uncertainty that the next few days will bring.”
Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group (ICG), said: “The ICG is very keen to get relatives back visiting their loved ones as quickly as possible as it has taken a huge toll on everyone’s mental health to be apart for so long
But if this period for visiting is to be brief and we are set for another, more significant and far-reaching, lockdown in the coming days then we have to be realistic, allow what visiting we are able to accommodate in this short period of time but always keeping the welfare of our residents and staff uppermost. It will be up to individual homes to decide what they can accommodate.
