What to expect when visiting your loved one at a residential or care home during COVID-19
In this article, we will give you advice on visiting your loved one in a residential or care home and help in understanding the necessary steps that care home’s must put in place to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to its residents when allowing visitation. (Article edited 27/01/22)
When can you visit a care home?
Care homes have been hit hard by COVID-19, the virus spreads quickly as homes are multi-occupied with people from high-risk groups. They are by nature social places and much of the care and activities are intimate, personal and hands-on.
Visits to care homes can take place, but may be limited at times in line with national guidance from the Government. There may be infection control measures in place and numbers visiting at any one time may be limited to reduce the risk of infection.
Further information can be found on the government websites for England and Wales.
What to expect when visiting a care home?
Visits should be tailored to residents and facilities and should prioritise residents and staff’s safety to limit the transmission of COVID-19. Regular testing, the wearing of PPE and strict infection control measures may be requested for nominated indoor visitors. Below are some tips on how to communicate when face coverings are required:
- speaking loudly and clearly
- keeping eye contact
- not wearing hats or anything else that might conceal their face
- wearing clothing or their hair in a way that a resident is more likely to recognise
- provide reassurance to visitors, stating that some people with poor cognition might struggle at first to remember or recognise them. Care home staff should try and prepare the resident for a visit, perhaps by looking at photographs of the person who is due to visit, and talking to them about their relationship.
Please remember when visiting a care home, that some people with Huntington’s disease will have cognitive impairment which may result in forgetfulness, apathy or irritability. They may not remember social distancing instructions and could be impulsive.
You may be asked to meet in a garden or outdoor space, speak to your loved one from behind a see-through plastic screen or chat through an open ground-floor window or patio door. Try to be flexible and work with everyone as best you can.
What you should do when visiting a care home
- Practice good hygiene - It is important to remember to always follow good hygiene practice and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. You will be asked to use hand sanitizer on entering the care home and when you are leaving.
- Wear a face-covering if you can - Face coverings and other personal protective equipment (PPE) may be needed. Take a look at our face coverings via our online shop and find advice on wearing a face covering on our social distancing page.
- Adhere to any social distancing measures - You much socially distance when advised to do so.
- Think about changes - Bear in mind that your loved one’s emotional wellbeing may be affected due to limited or no visits over the past months. You might see a change in their cognition or physical ability since you last visited. It is therefore important to prepare yourself for these possibilities.
- Create a visiting plan - It is good practice to set up a visiting plan with the care home and stick to it. If you have to postpone a visit, inform the care home as soon as possible so your scheduled slot can be cancelled.
- Try to avoid public transport - Try not to travel to the care home by public transport but if that is your only option, inform the care home. If you think that you will be late for your allotted time slot, try to contact the care home to discuss.
- Think ahead - Before leaving the care home, try to arrange your next visit and confirm that the date and time has been booked in.
Reasons for not visiting a care home
If there has been a report of COVID-19 within the care home, visiting will have to cease for a period. There are, however, exemptions in cases where a resident is nearing their end of life. If you or a member of your household has been exposed to COVID-19, or if you are self-isolating/quarantined, then you won’t be able to visit the care home. All care homes will have a test and trace system in place as a precaution.
If it is not possible to visit a care home resident, it might be possible to use video calls such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or other remote means.
Reuniting with your loved one
Your reunion may be emotional, try to prepare for the fact that your loved one’s symptoms may have worsened since you last saw them. If your loved one has memory problems, you may need to gently remind them who you are and explain why you have not visited due to COVID-19. Talking about earlier times you’ve enjoyed together may be a way of keeping the conversation more cheerful.
It’s natural to want to have physical contact with your loved one, staff will advise on whether this can be done safely but it will also come down to the individual. Please be patient and remember that all systems have been put in place to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and save lives. If you have any queries, please speak to the care home manager.
If you’d like to support the Huntington’s Disease Association during COVID-19, take a look at our virtual fundraising ideas and get involved today! If fundraising isn’t up your street, you can donate here.
If you’re affected by Huntington’s disease and need support or advice, please contact us on 0151 331 5444 or email [email protected].
In this article, we will give you advice on visiting your loved one in a residential or care home and help in understanding the necessary steps that care home’s must put in place to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to its residents when allowing visitation. (Article edited 27/01/22)
When can you visit a care home?
Care homes have been hit hard by COVID-19, the virus spreads quickly as homes are multi-occupied with people from high-risk groups. They are by nature social places and much of the care and activities are intimate, personal and hands-on.
Visits to care homes can take place, but may be limited at times in line with national guidance from the Government. There may be infection control measures in place and numbers visiting at any one time may be limited to reduce the risk of infection.
Further information can be found on the government websites for England and Wales.
What to expect when visiting a care home?
Visits should be tailored to residents and facilities and should prioritise residents and staff’s safety to limit the transmission of COVID-19. Regular testing, the wearing of PPE and strict infection control measures may be requested for nominated indoor visitors. Below are some tips on how to communicate when face coverings are required:
- speaking loudly and clearly
- keeping eye contact
- not wearing hats or anything else that might conceal their face
- wearing clothing or their hair in a way that a resident is more likely to recognise
- provide reassurance to visitors, stating that some people with poor cognition might struggle at first to remember or recognise them. Care home staff should try and prepare the resident for a visit, perhaps by looking at photographs of the person who is due to visit, and talking to them about their relationship.
Please remember when visiting a care home, that some people with Huntington’s disease will have cognitive impairment which may result in forgetfulness, apathy or irritability. They may not remember social distancing instructions and could be impulsive.
You may be asked to meet in a garden or outdoor space, speak to your loved one from behind a see-through plastic screen or chat through an open ground-floor window or patio door. Try to be flexible and work with everyone as best you can.
What you should do when visiting a care home
- Practice good hygiene - It is important to remember to always follow good hygiene practice and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. You will be asked to use hand sanitizer on entering the care home and when you are leaving.
- Wear a face-covering if you can - Face coverings and other personal protective equipment (PPE) may be needed. Take a look at our face coverings via our online shop and find advice on wearing a face covering on our social distancing page.
- Adhere to any social distancing measures - You much socially distance when advised to do so.
- Think about changes - Bear in mind that your loved one’s emotional wellbeing may be affected due to limited or no visits over the past months. You might see a change in their cognition or physical ability since you last visited. It is therefore important to prepare yourself for these possibilities.
- Create a visiting plan - It is good practice to set up a visiting plan with the care home and stick to it. If you have to postpone a visit, inform the care home as soon as possible so your scheduled slot can be cancelled.
- Try to avoid public transport - Try not to travel to the care home by public transport but if that is your only option, inform the care home. If you think that you will be late for your allotted time slot, try to contact the care home to discuss.
- Think ahead - Before leaving the care home, try to arrange your next visit and confirm that the date and time has been booked in.
Reasons for not visiting a care home
If there has been a report of COVID-19 within the care home, visiting will have to cease for a period. There are, however, exemptions in cases where a resident is nearing their end of life. If you or a member of your household has been exposed to COVID-19, or if you are self-isolating/quarantined, then you won’t be able to visit the care home. All care homes will have a test and trace system in place as a precaution.
If it is not possible to visit a care home resident, it might be possible to use video calls such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or other remote means.
Reuniting with your loved one
Your reunion may be emotional, try to prepare for the fact that your loved one’s symptoms may have worsened since you last saw them. If your loved one has memory problems, you may need to gently remind them who you are and explain why you have not visited due to COVID-19. Talking about earlier times you’ve enjoyed together may be a way of keeping the conversation more cheerful.
It’s natural to want to have physical contact with your loved one, staff will advise on whether this can be done safely but it will also come down to the individual. Please be patient and remember that all systems have been put in place to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and save lives. If you have any queries, please speak to the care home manager.
If you’d like to support the Huntington’s Disease Association during COVID-19, take a look at our virtual fundraising ideas and get involved today! If fundraising isn’t up your street, you can donate here.
If you’re affected by Huntington’s disease and need support or advice, please contact us on 0151 331 5444 or email [email protected].