Although we can now live safely with Covid-19, there is still some additional guidance in place in care homes. This is because many of the people who live in them are especially vulnerable to Covid-19 and other illnesses, due to age or underlying health conditions, and infections can spread quickly in communal places. One infection can turn into an outbreak, which can affect visiting and residents’ ability to take part in activities they enjoy.
There are simple things you can do to keep your loved ones, other residents and social care staff safe when visiting a care home:
• Avoid visiting if you feel unwell. Even if you just have mild cold symptoms or have tested negative for Covid-19, you could still have another illness such as flu or norovirus, which can also be very dangerous to older people or those with weakened immune systems. Avoid entering the care home until at least 5 days after you feel better
• Meet your loved ones outdoors or in a well-ventilated room. In colder weather, consider opening windows for 5–10 minutes every hour to let fresh air in
• Wear a face mask when moving through the home during the visit, and practice good hand hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser before and after touching anything
• Look out for potential symptoms of Covid-19 in your loved ones, including more unusual symptoms such as loss of appetite, falls, confusion, distress, or simply ‘not being themselves’. If you think your loved one may be displaying a symptom of Covid-19, alert a member of staff.
These steps are especially important during the winter, when illnesses are more common in the community. They can also help to protect staff in care homes from falling ill and not being able to care for your loved ones, and our NHS services from becoming overwhelmed, which can lead to the cancellation of appointments and operations for all of us.
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