@Kellyr @Lynmax @Baker17 @intheloop @Wishing20
This update email is useful perhaps in negotiating visits and maintaing contact.
Below we summarise some of the key information . While it is a step forward that this guidance has been published, we know there is more to be done so people living with dementia in care homes can have visits from their loved ones, in ways that work for them.
The guidance states that care homes should ensure all residents and their families are aware of visiting policies – please do ask your care home for their policy. Their policy should consider:
- the importance of consulting advocates for residents and their loved ones in decisions on care
- whether residents' needs make visits particularly crucial. For example, for people with dementia, restricting visitors can cause distress, which should be mitigated as far as possible
- whether visitors provide care that staff cannot replicate, or if visitors are included in a person's care plan. If so, the policy should reference what can be done to facilitate this care with use of PPE
- whether any cultural or religious needs have been identified in order to better support residents
- if further periods of lockdown arise, what alternative options will the care home put in place to mainatin social contact, and to ensure personalised updates are provided to loved ones
We will now be working to make sure this guidance is implemented in local areas in a way that works best for care home residents living with dementia and their families. We will have more information on the guidance available soon, as well as how you can use it to ensure care home visits work for you and your loved one.
We always want to make sure we are campaigning on the issues that matter most to you, so please do let us know how the guidance is working, and what issues you are coming up against when trying to plan care home visits by emailing change@alzheimers.
org.uk.