. My concern is they're going to keep this going just in case 2nd out break. it's so difficult for everyone, residents and family.
This is very much my concern too.
My Dad had only been in care for a couple of months before lockdown happened. He wasn't settling very well as it was... but his behaviour deteriorated further and to cut a very long story short, I was told to move him. He's currently in a dementia assessment unit and sounds to be doing better (though i still can't get to see him).
But, because of this, I've been phoning a number of care homes here in Scotland to try and access appropriate, good care going forward.
In conversation with several managers it's really dawned on me that visiting/life in care homes is not going to be anything like normal until there's an effective vaccine. As one said 'care homes have been badly burned by the epidemic and no-one wants a repeat'. My fear is that visiting is going to remain very limited, no 'trips out', no hugging etc for months yet.
All I wanted when Dad moved in to care was that he would have caring people around him, hopefully a bit of contentment, and I'd get to do daughter things with him again. Instead, he's surrounded by people in masks, he's lost the two people he remembered, and it sounds like he's going to live out the rest of his life in 'prison-like' conditions. (And, by the way, he's paying for the privilege)
Like some of the posts above I don't think enough consideration is being given to the psychological health of care home residents. Care home management and politicians are terrified by a repeat of such high numbers of care home deaths. I completely get that - but surely not at the cost of the emotional wellbeing of those who currently residents.