Worse than a prison visit: new guidance for visiting relatives in care homes could put them behind glass, in order to conform with social distancing rules.
What was This Writer saying yesterday about the current UK government’s similarity to the fascist state in V for Vendetta – providing “security but not freedom”?
Here’s proof of it:
New guidance for visits to care homes demands the following:
- Residents should each be limited to only a “single constant visitor” or an absolute maximum of two, with appropriate PPE used at all times.
- Care homes should designate “visiting pods” – rooms directly accessible from outdoors, so that visits can take place at windows. It seems the idea is to have the visitors outside the building and the residents within. A bit chilly in the winter!
- Worse still, the guidance says visits should happen in the open air – outdoors – whenever possible, possibly under an awning, gazebo, open-sided marquee. It recognises that this will not be appropriate for many residents and visitors in the winter.
- Social distancing rules must be followed at all times.
- Spaces designated for visits may be used by only one visiting family member and one resident at any time.
- All visits must be booked in advance.
In the event of an outbreak at a residence, all visits must be stopped until infection is brought under control – except in exceptional circumstances, such as end of life visits.
The guidelines have been condemned by charities and care home providers.
Erica Lockhart, the CEO of Surrey Care Association, said
The guidance, which outlines measures likened to prison visitation systems, suggests floor to ceiling screens, and whilst I can understand the government’s suggestion they haven’t fully understood the impact this will have on residents and loved ones.
Kate Lee, the chief executive officer at Alzheimer’s Society, expanded on this:
Some of the suggested options… have the potential to cause distress to people with dementia, particularly those in the later stages.
During the four months of the first lockdown, we saw an unexpected rise in dementia deaths in care homes that were not coronavirus related – we believe these 5,000 additional deaths could be as a result of disruptions to a threadbare social care system, and prolonged social isolation, causing dementia symptoms to rapidly deteriorate.
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