Caring Homes response to coronavirus
The health, safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Colleagues is always our top priority. We have therefore taken comprehensive action to prepare for and respond to the growing coronavirus outbreak in the UK.
This page details the latest advice from Caring Homes about the steps we are taking at our homes. This information is intended for Caring Homes Residents, Colleagues, and any visitors to our homes only.
For comprehensive information about the coronavirus itself, please visit either the Gov.uk or NHS websites, or call NHS 24 (Scotland only).
Websites below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Latest Update – 16th March 2020
We would like to update you on some important changes we are now making to ensure we protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and colleagues, which is always our top priority.
Caring Homes Steering Group has taken onboard all health and government advice, having moved into the delay phase and would like to share with you some important changes we are making.
We are now asking relatives to restrict visits to loved ones to only essential visits defined as those that are; absolutely necessary and extremely important.
We understand that this may be very difficult for both our residents and families. It is not a decision that we have taken lightly as we understand the challenges this may present everyone concerned.
It should be noted that whilst this may be our current position as situations present themselves in our homes we may be restricting visits to a greater degree, but this would be a last resort on a home by home basis and or if government guidance necessitates this.
We will also with immediate effect be postponing all activities delivered by third parties within our homes. This will affect any community groups that meet on site, all external providers for beauty treatments, all providers of arts and crafts, activities, intergenerational groups etc.
We hope you will understand and support these actions and any further subsequent measures we might be required or wish to put in place.
Before visiting any Caring Homes home, please consider the following:
• Is your visit essential?
We are currently advising visitors to only enter a Caring Homes care home if it is absolutely necessary or extremely important to do so. If you can delay your visit or achieve its purpose via another method (i.e. through a phone call or video call) please do so.
• Are you currently feeling unwell? Please do not visit a Caring Homes home for any reason if you currently feel unwell, particularly if you have a new persistent cough, a fever or high-temperature, or have shortness of breath. • Have you recently been abroad or been in close contact with someone who has? Please do not visit a Caring Homes home if you, a partner or a dependent has recently returned from a Category 1 or Category 2 country, as defined on the NHS website – see details at
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-travellers/
You will be required to complete a form on arrival at the home, providing contact details and declaring that you have considered and meet all the criteria to enter the home. Please be prepared to sign.
If you are unsure whether you should visit, or if there are exceptional circumstances that mean a visit is necessary despite the conditions above, please speak to the Home Manager before visiting the home. Phone numbers for all homes are listed on the individual home pages at https://www.caringhomes.org. Alternatively, you can contact each of our care homes directly by using the find a care home search located here.
How to safely visit a Caring Homes care home
Having considered the above information, if you are still planning to visit a Caring Homes care home it is important that you do so safely and in a way that minimises the risk of infection to our residents and colleagues. Therefore, before visiting and whilst on site, please consider the following:
• Hand washing. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly before you visit the care home, and regularly whilst you are at the home. Please make sure you wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds, using either hot water and soap or 60% alcohol sanitiser gel. The NHS has a video guide to effective handwashing (see below). Additional hand washing stations have been set up at our homes to help visitors wash their hands regularly.
Video: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/
• Coughs and sneezes. We understand there are many reasons why someone may have a cough or sneeze. Whilst visiting a Caring Homes care home please make sure you have a tissue on you at all times so that you can catch a cough or sneeze. Please then immediately dispose of the tissue in the bin. Remember – Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.
Protecting Residents and Colleagues
Please be assured that Caring Homes is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and comprehensive contingency plans are in place in the event of a coronavirus outbreak at a home.
It is important to bear in mind that every year Caring Homes prepares to respond to infectious diseases, including a severe flu outbreak, and therefore, whilst this illness is new, it is very much business as usual for how we safeguard the health of our Residents and Colleagues.
In response to the growing UK coronavirus outbreak we have created a dedicated steering group. Led by our Clinical Director, this group comprises senior leaders from across the business who meet regularly to review and further develop our plans, reflecting the evolving situation.
The steering group has already taken action, including working to secure the medical supplies we may need in the event of an outbreak in a home, and developing the policies and protocols needed to make sure Caring Homes can continue to provide high-quality, kind care if or when coronavirus becomes more widespread in the UK.
All Home Managers and Colleagues have been informed of the steps we are taking and how they can help prevent the spread of infection. This includes establishing hand washing stations in the reception areas of all homes, installing additional prominent signage about handwashing, and completing the infection control training modules through our digital learning platform.
The Caring Homes Coronavirus Steering Group will continue to meet daily and will be monitoring, reviewing and reacting to the latest guidance issued by the UK Government and Devolved Administrations, the NHS, and public health bodies.
This page will be updated to reflect the latest information and advice regarding any additional steps we are taking to protect Residents, as and when this is required. For anyone connected to a Caring Homes home who has further questions about our response to the Coronavirus, please call the Home Manager at your local home. Phone numbers for all homes are listed on the individual home pages at https://www.caringhomes.org. Alternatively, you can contact each of our care homes directly by using the find a care home search bar located here.
If you do not have symptoms and are looking for general information on the Novel coronavirus (Covid-19), a free NHS helpline has been set up on 0800 028 2816
The helpline is open:
Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 10.00pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
There is no need for people to wear face masks at work or in the local community.