Home in lockdown but invited to visit

[father ted]

I popped up to the care home to take some gifts for Mum this afternoon - I have not seen her since March 10th. When I handed them in I had a chat with a member of staff who said that if I wanted to visit Mum I could. They would provide me with all the masks, gloves etc and arrange for her to be in their garden. This completely took me aback as as far as I know they are still closed to visitors.
She had told me that my Mum had become very anxious of late & I think they are thinking that her anxiety is down to the current circumstances and being cut off from her family and a visit might help.

I am now in a dilemma as I am the primary carer for my disabled daughter who lives with me. My daughter has had a shielding letter as she is vulnerable with respiratory and heart problems. I know the staff are doing it everyday and I would love to see Mum but then my mind runs away and I think of the potential danger to my daughter the rest of my family, my Mum and of course myself. I will contact the specialist team who look after my daughters medical needs but I guess ultimately the decision will rest with me as all they can advise is about varying levels of risk. Has anyone had the opportunity to visit in the current circumstances and what precautions were taken or made by the home?

 

[Louise7]

It does sound as though they are making an exception to the visiting restrictions due to the fact that your mum is very distressed. Saying that, when I spoke to the manager of my mum's care home about future visits he suggested that it might be possible to see her in the garden once all of the staff/residents had been tested, and he would keep the matter under review, so perhaps your mum's home are offering the same to everyone? Has your mum been tested? If you are wearing PPE, are outside and also maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from your mum then the risk of you catching the virus from your mum will be reduced, as will her risk of catching it from you - I can't see what other precautions the home could be taking under the circumstances. I'm sure that the care home wouldn't have suggested the visit if they thought that it may place your mum, the staff or other residents at unnecessary risk but I think you're doing the right thing by speaking to your daughter's medical team to see what they think.

 

[jelba]

Got to wait another 6 weeks before anyone can visit if all goes well to see mum hopefully things may happen to speed up the process as I'm going back to work on Tuesday and feeling down and have trouble sleeping plus my dad very depressed and blames the care home as they think they are cruel not to let him visit her

 

[Lynmax]

My mums care home are working on some plans to allow visiting again, no idea what these will be or when but at least they are doing risk assessments etc. If it's in the garden and we keep apart, then I hope something can be worked out. I ve not seen mum or even visited the care home as she moved there last month from hospital..

 

[Palerider]

Same here, the CH will let me see mum provided she isn't too tired, they will bring her down stairs and into the garden, so hoping there are some warm sunny days ahead

 

[jelba]

Hopefully mum care home will do the same as the weather getting warmer now problem is mum almost bed bound so if she can go into the garden won't be long plus there over 50 residents in mum care home so will take a bit of organising