Residents at family-run Moat House Care Home are rolling up their sleeves to take part in a sunflower growing gardening competition where they hope to win up to £100 for the care home’s residents’ social fund.
“We have had a lot of fun, tending to our sunflowers for the competition, We even sing to them. I’ve always loved getting out in the garden, it really is a passion of mine. The competition whilst a bit of fun, would be fantastic to win, a great team effort!” explained Peter Stowe, a resident gardener at Moat House.
Residents and team at The Old Vicarage Care Home in Clay Cross were one of the first to receive the vaccine against Covid-19.
“This is brilliant and will save some lives and I am glad they came to the home, much better than going out in the cold” said Mona a resident at The Old Vicarage.
We fully understand that current visiting arrangements and local authority suspensions are very difficult for residents and relatives. With my father living in Moat House, my family suffers the same.
However, please understand that the situation is very difficult to manage with a government strategy that does not seem to make much sense. Recent guidance for indoor hand holding visits has now been extended to relatives’ taking residents on external trip to their homes for visits in their gardens. This is fantastic, and we are all for it, but the relatives survey feedback was very mixed with many agreeing to this and many not agreeing and believing it is too early. Our decisions must balance this along with prioritising our cherished residents’ safety. Remember, just one infected resident could harm many of our loved ones.
Government guidance is confusing because it wishes us to enable internal visits and residents going to visit relatives’ gardens. But at the same time local authorities continue to suspend visits at a great many care homes, including many of ours, amid government sponsored media warnings to stay social distanced because the virus threat remains high!
It is wonderful that most residents and many of our team have received their first vaccine, but the medical advice is that residents can still contract Covid 19, get ill and infect others. We are advised to continue our robust infection control measures.
Government advice remains that we should suspend a homes’ visits for 28 days upon an outbreak (2 or more team or residents with positive tests) and if another positive test occurs within that period the 28 days restarts. Although it goes on to say we should do everything possible to allow visiting! We have to liaise with each of our homes’ local authorities for their interpretation of the guidance and final advice and each local area’s advice varies wildly!
We now have hardly any residents testing positive but frequent odd team members that do. This is inevitable as the team live in the community where Covid cases are prevalent. This has resulted in some homes having prolonged repeatedly extended suspensions. We disagree with this and have strongly argued against it because there is no evidence of transmission in the homes and that visiting in our visiting cabins is very safe.
We have therefore decided to take a more pragmatic flexible approach taking each home’s varying factors into account. Wherever possible we will continue with visiting in our very safe visiting cabins. Gazebos and internal visits may still be subject to suspension and we are reviewing arrangements for relatives to take residents to their home for garden visit and will make an announcement next week.
Our full visiting arrangements are detailed below.
Yours sincerely
Dave Lock
Managing Director
P.S. This page is accessible via our website to recipients of our text service and is not open view.
VISITING ARRANGEMENTS
VISITING CABINS
The following applies to Cabins, Gazebos, and Internal visits
Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website.
Visiting slots are for 20-minutes because of limitations of team resources.
Number of visits is a max of 2 visits per week for each resident.
Number of visits is a max of 1 visit per week for each household or 2 if you are the only household visiting.
Coronavirus guidelines as set by the government are to be followed.
Social distancing of 2 meters apart from all people during the visit unless hand holding has been agreed prior to the visit.
Care queries about your loved one should be made by calling the home and not during your visits.
Items brought for residents should be easily cleanable; boxes are good but not flowers etc.
Resident leaving homes are against government guidelines.
Virtual communication is encouraged, and resident assistance is available if resources allow.
Visiting arrangement changes are notified via our text service so please ensure that the home has your mobile phone number.
Resident exclusion from receiving visits may have to be made by us in exceptional circumstances if a risk assessment determines this is necessary i.e., particularly those clinically vulnerable to Covid.
Face coverings required unless you are exempt or wearing one distress’s your loved one living with dementia, in which case please inform us prior to visiting, In such case you will need to wear a face visor. To make communication easier speak loudly and clearly whilst keeping eye contact and avoid concealing your face further with say, a hat.
VISITING CABINS
Continue as before
Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit.
Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
Rapid tests are on hold.
Hugs are on hold.
Face coverings are to be worn to and from the cabin.
No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.
VISITING GAZEBOS
Bookings available from Tuesday 9th March
Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit.
Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
Rapid tests are on hold.
Hugs are on hold.
Face coverings are to be worn at all times during the visit.
No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.
INTERNAL VISITS
Prior to booking any visits one person per resident (government guidance maximum) should contact the home to register as the nominated single person authorised to make internal visits to a resident.
Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website for either a cabin or gazebo.
Call the home after making your 20-minute appointment to ask for your visit to be converted to an internal visit.
Number of visitors is a max. of 1 pre-authorised constant person.
Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time for Covid test and screening including a temperature check.
Rapid tests are required upon arrival.
PPE (surgical mask, apron and gloves provided) are to be worn at all times during the visit.
Visiting area will be a designated safe place set up with hard non-porous easy clean furnishings for infection control reasons.
Internal access has to be denied to all other internal areas of the home including toilets except for handwashing.
Visitor vaccination requirement is legally discrimination, so we cannot insist Although government guidance recommends this to help to keep residents safe.
Hugs are on hold, but you may hold hands subject to prior agreement with the home and in line with the resident’s individual risk assessment.
Hygiene strict hand wash, gel procedures will be in place.
ESSENTIAL VISITORS
Is a visitor that can make internal There are 2 very limited circumstances where essential visitors may enter the home:
During palliative care it is important that a persons’ end of life experience is a special time with regular family bedside visits to their loved ones following a doctor’s diagnosis of end of life. This is now extended to a resident’s entire palliative journey as well as their end of life.
Specific healthcare needs(to be introduced later once internal visits are successfully embedded): a family member may be asked to regularly visit to help support a wider team to meet the specific healthcare needs of a resident. This will only be in very exceptional circumstances as determined by our Dementia Manager or Dementia Specialist Nurse. We are developing a detailed policy for making these decisions.
You will be subject to the same testing regime as our team members to ensure the safety of the residents. We will provide PPE (surgical mask, visor, apron, and disposable gloves) for you to wear, and only essential contact with your loved one is allowed to deliver care and support.
RELUCTANT TO VISIT?
If you have not visited your loved one because they have dementia, and you have concerns of any type or are worried about how they will respond by maybe not social distancing and trying to touch you etc. Then please ask your home manager to speak to our Dementia Manager, Karen Middleton, who will help you and the home to make visits possible. This organisation advocates and provides support for families of residents living with dementia who are finding it difficult https://goldstandardsframework.org.uk/john-s-campaign-dementia
I am providing this update to clarify the position of the deteriorating visiting situation, caused by the critical risk of the rising Covid 2nd wave and the emerging new, more infectious strain. This has sadly resulted in the suspension of visits at all of our homes either recently or currently.
I hope the following will clarify why Government guidelines are that a home with any 2 people receiving a positive test result is classed as having an outbreak and visits should be suspended for 28 days. The 28 days is reset upon any further positive test within that period from the initial test date. Positive cases mainly arise within our team who pick up the virus in the homes local communities, where rising infection rates make more suspensions likely. Public Health England and the Local Authorities interpret the gov guidelines and instruct us on suspension periods that are sometimes reduced to 14 days.
For the increased safety of our residents, we have stepped up team testing to add two lateral flow tests per week to the longstanding PCR test. Plus, if a home has a positive test all team members will have a lateral flow test before every shift.
On a very positive note, our first home has received the vaccine for all residents today and many team members have also been vaccinated in most other homes. We have no news yet but will of course let you know when other homes receive their vaccines.
For those homes with visiting, we apologise for ending the hugs, but this was necessary due to the increasing controversy around the accuracy of lateral flow tests. This is not what we wanted but feel sure that you share our wish to remain vigilant to reduce the risk to our residents.
Yours sincerely
Dave Lock
Managing Director
NEW VISITING ARRANGEMENTS FROM THURSDAY 31th DECEMBER.
VISITING CABINS
Visiting appointments are for 20-minute slots booked via our website.
Number of visits is a max of 2 visits per week for each resident and 1 per household.
Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit.
Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening.
Rapid tests are on hold.
Hug are on hold.
Face coverings are to be worn to and from the cabin. Inform us prior to visiting, if possible, if you are exempt or wearing one causes distress to your loved one living with dementia. To make communication easier speak loudly and clearly whilst keeping eye contact and avoid concealing your face further with say, a hat.
No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets
Coronavirus guidelines as set by the government are to be followed.
Social distancing keeping of 2 meters apart from all people during the visit
Care queries about your loved one made by calling the home and not during your visits.
Items brought for residents should be easily cleanable; boxes are good but not flowers etc.
Residents leaving homes are against government guidelines, sorry even for Christmas!
Resident exclusion from receiving visits may have to be made by us in exceptional circumstances if a risk assessment determines this is necessary i.e. particularly clinically vulnerable to Covid.
Virtual communication is encouraged and resident assistance is available if resources allow.
Visiting arrangement changes are notified via our text service so please ensure that the home has your mobile phone number.
Suspended Visits may be introduced if required by a government body because of national lockdown, tiering etc.
A home outbreak (2 residents/team members test positive) will result in visits being suspended until the home has had no positive tests for 14 or 28 days dependent upon PHE/LA requirement.
VISITING GAZEBOS
Available at out larger homes as a second visiting pod
Arrangements as above except for:
Face covering are to be worn throughout the visit.
Suspended visits in severe weather conditions
RELUCTANT TO VISIT?
If you haven’t visited your loved one because they have dementia and you have concerns of any type or are worried about how they will respond by maybe not social distancing and trying to touch you etc. Then please ask your home manager to speak to our Dementia Manager, Karen Middleton, who will help you and the home to make visits possible.
You must consent to a test each visit, call the home from the car park, take the rapid test we provide and only after a negative result enter the home. We will provide a surgical mask, visor, aprons and disposable gloves for you to wear. Essential visits can continue during suspended visiting periods.
There are 3 very limited circumstances where essential visitors may enter the home:
During palliative care it is important that a persons’ end of life experience is a special time with family visiting their loved ones following a doctor’s diagnosis of end of life.
Assisting with acute behaviours a family member may be asked to help support a wider team to meet the needs of a resident living with dementia during times of acute behaviours where our dementia experts believe this will help. This would only be in very exceptional circumstances as determined by our Dementia Manager or Dementia Specialist Nurse.
Specific healthcare needs of a resident on an individual basis
We have reviewed our visiting arrangements based on the new government’s guidance update. Feedback indicates that recent political announcements and media speculation has raised some people’s expectations to unrealistic levels. I’m sorry to say that twice a week visits, inside our homes to hug your loved ones just isn’t possible yet! This is far from what we wanted but we are sure that you share our wish to remain vigilant to reduce the risk to our residents. This said, we are really pleased to be able to announce that we are enabling a way for our residents and their families to have a much-needed hug. These arrangements are likely to extend through the festive season unless we receive new government guidelines. We will share any news on vaccines as we receive it. We welcome your feedback on our visiting arrangements during the consultation period ending Friday 11th December via email to your home manager.
Yours sincerely
Dave Lock
Managing Director
NEW VISITING ARRANGEMENTS FROM WEDNESDAY 9th DECEMBER.VISITING CABINS
Visiting appointments are for 20-minute slots booked via our website.
Number of visits is a max of 2 visits per week for each resident and 1 per household.
Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit. The constant visitor constraints are removed.
Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening.
Rapid tests (government lateral flow) must be taken upon arrival. A positive result will terminate the visit and we’ll ask you to take a government PCR test (we’ll provide) and self-isolate. We are privately purchasing approved antigen rapid swab tests to use in homes prior to gov tests arrival or failure of supply.
Hug your loved one, if you wish, after your consented rapid test result is available in the last few minutes of your visit outside of the Cabin. Subject to rapid test availability and wearing a surgical mask, apron and disposable gloves that we will provide.
Face coverings are to be worn to and from the cabin. Inform us prior to visiting, if possible, if you are exempt or wearing one causes distress to your loved one living with dementia. To make communication easier speak loudly and clearly whilst keeping eye contact and avoid concealing your face further with say, a hat.
No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets
Coronavirus guidelines as set by the government are to be followed.
Social distancing keeping of 2 meters apart from all people during the visit
Care queries about your loved one made by calling the home and not during your visits.
Items brought for residents should be easily cleanable; boxes are good but not flowers etc.
Resident leaving homes are against government guidelines, sorry even for Christmas!
Resident exclusion from receiving visits may have to be made by us in exceptional circumstances if a risk assessment determines this is necessary i.e. particularly clinically vulnerable to Covid.
Virtual communication is encouraged and resident assistance is available if resources allow.
Visiting arrangement changes are notified via our text service so please ensure that the home has your mobile phone number.
Suspended Visits may be introduced if required by a government body because of national lockdown, tiering etc.
A home outbreak (2 residents/team members test positive) will result in visits being suspended until the home has had no positive tests for 14 days.
VISITING GAZEBOS
Available at out larger homes as a second visiting pod
Arrangements as above except for:
Face covering are to be worn throughout the visit.
Suspended visits in severe weather conditions
RELUCTANT TO VISIT?
If you haven’t visited your loved one because they have dementia and you have concerns of any type or are worried about how they will respond by maybe not social distancing and trying to touch you etc. Then please ask your home manager to speak to our Dementia Manager, Karen Middleton, who will help you and the home to make visits possible.
You must consent to a test each visit, call the home from the car park, take the rapid test we provide and only after a negative result enter the home. We will provide a surgical mask, visor, aprons and disposable gloves for you to wear. You may hug your loved one, if you wish, in the last few minutes of your visit. Essential visits can continue during suspended visiting periods.
There are 3 very limited circumstances where essential visitors may enter the home:
During palliative care it is important that a persons’ end of life experience is a special time with family visiting their loved ones following a doctor’s diagnosis of end of life.
Assisting with acute behaviours a family member may be asked to help support a wider team to meet the needs of a resident living with dementia during times of acute behaviours where our dementia experts believe this will help. This would only be in very exceptional circumstances as determined by our Dementia Manager or Dementia Specialist Nurse.
Specific healthcare needs of a resident on an individual basis
Residents at the family-run Knowles Care Home are rolling up their sleeves to take part in a sunflower growing gardening competition where they hope to win up to £100 for the care home’s residents social fund.
“I’m thrilled the competition has been launched here again. I’ve always loved getting out in the garden, it really is a passion of mine” explained Keith, a resident gardener at The Knowles.
The Knowles Care Home invites residents of all gardening experience and ability to join the Gardening Club which is led by their groundskeeper, Richard Mee who provides residents with monthly expert gardening tips and advice. Richard is responsible for maintaining the beautiful gardens at The Knowles. “It’s so lovely to spend time with the residents, they are so passionate about the gardens and what we grow, from onions, beetroots to runner beans and so much more but everything is grown with love, and the sunflower competition is one of their favourites and this year we may have even broken some records.” Said Richard
“I’m quietly confident but I am also happy to take part and will water my sunflower every day with love. Wish us luck!” added fellow resident gardener June.
Harrier House Care Home is looking for a team of dedicated healthcare professionals. The new, luxury 84-bedroom care and nursing home, on Hurricane Road in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire is due to welcome residents in early 2021. The home will combine residential, nursing, dementia, and respite care, in a luxurious but warm and homely setting.
The opening of Harrier House luxury care home will create up to 100 new jobs in the local area. The new home, run by Adept Care Homes has many prominent features, the home includes a cinema, a pub, a hair and beauty salon, a corner shop as well as a private dining room and has luxurious lounges throughout the home.
Dave Lock, Managing Director of Adept Care Homes said he was looking for people to work in Harrier House who wanted to be part of a different type of care experience. He said: “We are looking for team members who want to provide integrated person-centered care, those individuals who want to go that extra mile and to help residents lead fulfilled lives.”
“We provide ‘all around’ care which means, everyone works collaboratively like you would in a real family home. Every day we look for new ways to do more for the people we care for and we never stop looking to improve. We’re creating a new model of care, and we’re excited to be bringing it to Hucknall” concluded Dave.
Hairdresser at the family-run Old Vicarage Care Home, Paul Gordon was surprised to see a familiar face when he returned to the home to continue his services as the resident hair stylist.
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