Please find latest guidance of visit to loved one at Bryden House as published 13th May by the NHS
Clinical guide for supporting compassionate visiting arrangements for those receiving care at the end of life
Visiting people at the end of life in care homes
Whilst care homes should limit unnecessary visits, when somebody is dying, it is important that their loved ones are able to visit the person.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has set out advice which emphasises the importance of visits at the end of life for both the dying person and their loved ones. The DHSC guidance has set out considerations to ensure safe visiting in care homes at end of life as follows:
o Family and friends should be advised not to visit care homes, except next of kin in exceptional situations such as end of life. Follow the social distancing guidance.
o Visitors should normally be limited to one at a time to preserve physical distancing.
o Visitors should be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds on entering and leaving the home and catch coughs and sneezes in tissues.
o Visitors should minimise contact with other residents and staff (less than 15 minutes / 2 metres apart, etc.)
o Visitors should visit the resident in their own room directly upon arrival and leave immediately after the visit.
o Alternatives to in-person visiting should be explored, including the use of telephones or video, or the use of plastic or glass barriers between residents and visitors.
o Cancel all gatherings and plan alternative arrangements for communal activities which incorporate social distancing.
The Home Manager or Nurse in Charge should discuss appropriate arrangements with families and important information on their local processes for ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of visitors, residents and their teams.
PPE there been a lot in the media about PPE, and the supply chains for care homes in particular, we have spent many hours if not days trying to ensure we have sufficient PPE for our staff and residents, its been extremely stressful at times however through our endeavours we have not only secured PPE we are providing PPE for staff above that which is recommended. The cost of PPE has seen some items such as face mask go up from 15p an item to £1.50!
PHE would suggest that an apron, gloves and mask would be sufficient in a nursing home and we believe to some extent they are correct, however to deal with some of the concerns raised by staff and to help with personal care we have also purchased full face visors, goggles, hairnets, over sleeves protection and overshoe protection, should the carers wish to wear on top of the PHE guidance. Residents are also offered facemasks to wear when undertaking personal care at the moment. If you do need to visit the home in an emergency, you will be asked to don/doff PPE ( put on and remove ) as per PHE guidance, standard kits of an apron, gloves and facemask will be provided, if you have any concerns please contact Natalie.