Excitement as care home residents rediscover the great outdoors
Ecstatic, emotional, epic. Just some of the words used to describe our residents' new found freedom at the latest easing of coronarvirus restrictions for those living in care homes.
For the past year, any resident needing to leave their care home, for example to attend an appointment, would need to self-isolate for 14 days when they got back. There have been no exceptions for daily exercise, which has meant that many have not left the premises for over 12 months.
Thankfully, the latest goverment guidelines now allow care home residents to leave the home to experience the great outdoors (in the company of their named visitors or care home staff) without needing to self-isolate on their return.
For some this lifting of restrictions has meant a walk to the park, for others a chance to breathe some fresh sea air, but for all these simple changes of scenery have been of real benefit to our residents' mental health and wellbeing. The sheer joy that this simple act of stepping outside has brought them has been incredibly heartwarming to watch.
The new guidance allows residents to meet one or both of their nominated visitors, or their essential care giver (where appropriate), outside of the home. All trips out of the home must be booked in advance with the home, must be to outdoor spaces only, and should not involve the use of public transport.
To make arrangements to meet your loved one outside of the home, or to visit them in it, please contact the home directly. You can find information and contact details here.