As we continue to manage the challenges brought by coronavirus, we recognise the importance of keeping families connected, remaining as open as possible for friends and family as well as keeping our care home communities safe. We will continue to work with everyone and with the government guidance in England, Scotland and Wales and will provide regular updates for loved ones should there be any changes to the guidance for visiting our care homes.
Viewing our homes
Booking your visit
To book a viewing, please contact our friendly Careline team on 0333 999 8699 or call the home directly. You will be advised upon booking of what to expect on arrival, the infection control measures that are in place and guidance to follow during your visit.
Keeping you and our Residents safe during your visit
While you will be shown the key aspects of the home, we still need to ensure the safety of everyone in our homes, therefore the areas you will be shown may be limited, but you will still experience the best possible sense of the home. Our Home Managers are in the best position to determine how these visits are supported both safely and effectively in your area.
Visiting friends and loved ones
We are supporting safe visits to our care homes in line with the latest Government guidance and local public health advice.
We follow Government and Public Health guidance on visiting in our Homes considering current circumstances within the home and individual Resident requirements for visiting. Our homes offer a range of visiting options, including indoor visits, garden and window visits, and visits in exceptional circumstances, including compassionate visits. There are no restrictions on visiting but we do ask people visiting to liaise with our Home Care teams and follow guidance to ensure that people living in the Home are kept safe. If a home is in outbreak the visiting options may need to be modified in line with advice from Public Health Teams, but we can arrange for you to stay in touch with your loved ones via Zoom or telephone calls if you are unable to visit your loved one in person.
Lateral Flow Device testing
Our measures for Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing vary across England, Scotland and Wales, depending on the local government guidance.
In England and Wales, there is currently a pause on all asymptomatic LFD testing requirements for our Colleagues, Residents, and visitors, this includes visitors who provide personal care for a Resident.
Frequent visitors to our care homes in Scotland are required to complete two negative LFD tests per week.
Infection control measures
In conjunction with the introduction of visitor testing, we must also continue to follow other Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, including social distancing, good hand hygiene procedures, and wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A Colleague will be available to discuss these infection control measures, to assist you with donning and doffing your PPE and to discuss any concerns you may have.
Please read our Relatives Visiting Guide for more information.
Relatives Coronavirus Helpline – We’d Love to Hear From You
We’ve set up a Relatives Helpline so that any of our existing Relatives can find out about the measures we’re taking to protect our Residents, Relatives and Colleagues, to find out about our visiting arrangements based on the latest Government guidance and how these might affect you.
We have set up this helpline to help guide you through the best possible way to stay in touch with your loved one.
Please call us on our dedicated Relatives Helpline: 0333 321 4654