As of 4th April 2022, there is new guidance from the Government for care home visitors.
The new guidance means that most visitors will no longer be required to carry out a Lateral Flow Covid test before entering a care home.
The new guidance will also remove the requirement for the regular testing of residents who do not have Covid-19 symptoms.
We welcome the opportunity for residents to see their loved ones as we appreciate the vital role they play in their wellbeing and care. However, we will be asking visitors to continue to follow our infection prevention and control measures. These include:
- Providing notice in advance of your visit – even calling the day of your visit will be helpful to ensure we know when to expect you
- Your temperature measured on arrival
- Wearing a facemask whilst you are in the care home
Visits will continue to take place in residents’ rooms rather than communal spaces.
Personal/essential care givers
The guidance for visitors providing personal care to residents is slightly different and they will still be required to take a Lateral Flow Covid test on the day of their visit. However, they will not be required to test more than twice a week. They will still need to provide proof of a negative result.
Personal care is defined in the Health and Social Care Act as physical help given to a person and any supervision and prompting of an individual to carry out daily living tasks themselves, including assisting with food and fluids.
If there are Covid-19 cases in the home, there may be additional guidance which the care home will be able to provide.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact the care homes directly or call us at head office on 01934 422 822. You can also email us: info@notarohomes.co.uk