Visitation Special Measures in place
We are pleased to announce that from Monday 12th April as per government guidelines, 2 named visitors will be allowed for indoors visits. Covid restrictions continue to be cautiously eased.
The units will be in contact with you to discuss who the second designated visitor will be.
Visitors who are parents will also be able to visit with babies and very young children, who will not count as one of the visitors. This means grandparents and great-grandparents will be able to meet the newest members of their families for the first time.
Please continue to book your visits by contacting the respective units directly.
You will still have to complete a Lateral flow test pre visit and wear full PPE during your visit but young children will be exempt from this testing.
The visiting times will be Monday to Saturday as follows:
Morning:
10.00 – 10.30
10.30 – 11.00
11.00 – 11.30
11.30 – 12.00
Afternoon:
14.00 – 14.30
14.30 – 15.00
15.00 – 15.30
15.30 – 16.00
16.00 – 16.30
This letter sets out more about what the testing process will involve, what it will mean for you and other precautions we ask that you take to keep your loved ones and all our residents and staff safe.
In the event of an outbreak in our care home, please note that apart from in exceptional circumstances, visits will be postponed.
What does testing involve?
You will be asked to take a test using a new technology called a Lateral Flow Test (LFT). You will be tested before visiting to check if you currently have Covid-19.
For this, we will ask you to do a throat and nose swab every time you visit Aspen Hill Village, which will be sent to a testing centre remotely, and then we will let you know the outcome of your result in 30-60 minutes from the time of taking the test. We will ask you to complete the swabbing yourself, supervised by a trained staff member. A swab is a small piece of soft, absorbent material on a plastic stick that is used to take a sample from your nose and throat.
The test is very straightforward, and you will be supported throughout the process by a member of staff from the care home. Full instructions will be provided to you upon arrival at your scheduled visit.
Key steps you should be prepared for during the test include:
1. When you first enter care home
- When visiting the home for your scheduled visit, please ensure you wear warm outdoor clothing. Blankets will be available should they be required.
- Please only park in the designated covid visitors parking spaces identified as per the signage
- Two family members will be permitted for each visit. You will report to the onsite Covid – 19 Testing Centre located in the Administration Building and which will be sign posted Registration and Testing (The Hair Salon).
- You will be required to attend the Registration and Testing area 60 minutes prior to your scheduled visiting time.
- You will be asked to wash your hands
- You will be provided with PPE and asked to put it on as advised by a member of staff. This will include gloves, mask and apron. See the end of this letter for a pictorial guide on how to correctly put on and take off PPE. A staff member will help you with this.
- Your temperature will be taken by a member of staff. If you have a temperature higher than 37.7 you will be asked to leave the care home.
- You will be asked to sign a consent form to take the test and share personal information with us so we can record and inform you of your result. You will also complete our visiting code of conduct in preparation for your visit.
- You will then be checked in for your visit to see your loved one.
2. You will then be asked to register for your test
- This is how NHS Test & Trace can link you to your test sample and collect contact details to send you your result.
- This will be an online form on an iPhone that we will provide.
- If you cannot complete this form yourself, a staff member can assist you.
- To complete the registration form, our staff will provide you with:
– 4 copies of your test kit barcode — used to track your individual test
– The test site ID number — used to link your test to the care home
– Test registration card — used to save a copy of your barcode for your personal records - Please make sure you keep the barcode copies with you.
- Please see the end of this letter for a pictorial guide on how to register your test kit.
3. Take your test
- After you check in, you will be given a swab.
- You will then need to take your own throat and nose swab, supervised by one of our trained staff members. We will walk you through how to swab yourself which will only take about 30 seconds to do.
- Once you have handed over the swab, you will be asked to wait in Area 2 – Refreshments, where Light Refreshments will be available whilst you wait for your result. Once you have collected your light refreshments, you should then proceed to the Results waiting area until your result is ready which will take approximately 30-60 minutes from the point of testing.
- If your test result is returned back in less time, then you will be required to wait in the Results Area until your scheduled appointment.
4. What does my result mean?
We will inform you of your result and NHS Test & Trace will also send your result via SMS and/or the e-mail that you provided on the online registration form.
- Positive – you will not be able to visit. You must go home immediately and self-isolate. You will have to take a second test which is a confirmatory PCR test which we will provide and register for you. You will receive your result in around 72 hours and you need to self-isolate until you get your result. If you test positive, NHS Test & Trace may contact you to ask you for your contacts.
- Inconclusive – we will ask you to do another LFT test. If this is inconclusive too, we will discuss your visit with you.
- Negative – your visit will be able to go ahead, as long as you comply with all other infection prevention and control measures and our visiting code of conduct (see below). This does not guarantee that you definitely do not have Covid-19, so we still need to make sure visits take place in a safe way, such as ensuring you wear your PPE at all times. If you have any questions about this, please do ask. You will be escorted to the unit to visit your loved one.
4. What does my result mean?
We will inform you of your result and NHS Test & Trace will also send your result via SMS and/or the e-mail that you provided on the online registration form.
- Positive – you will not be able to visit. You must go home immediately and self-isolate. You will have to take a second test which is a confirmatory PCR test which we will provide and register for you. You will receive your result in around 72 hours and you need to self-isolate until you get your result. If you test positive, NHS Test & Trace may contact you to ask you for your contacts.
- Inconclusive – we will ask you to undertake another LFT test. If this is inconclusive too, we will discuss your visit with you.
- Negative – your visit will be enable you to proceed with your scheduled visit, as long as you comply with all other infection prevention and control measures and our visiting code of conduct. This does not guarantee that you definitely do not have Covid-19, so we still need to make sure visits take place in a safe way, such as ensuring you wear your PPE at all times. If you have any questions about this, please do ask. You will be escorted to the unit to visit your loved one.
5. Visiting Areas
The visiting area has been identified on the unit. Please kindly observe the following visiting guidelines: –
- Please only remain in the designated visiting area.
- The area will be cleaned prior and post visit.
- You will have a 30-minute visit with your loved one.
- Whilst the visit is taking place on the unit this does not need to be supervised and will be accommodated in the front lounge of each unit. Special arrangements will be made for those residents who are not mobile.
- Once the visit is over, visitors should exit the unit and dispose of their PPE in the clinical waste bins (yellow) provided outside each unit entrance.
It’s important to recognise that a negative test will provide us with some assurance as to whether you are carrying the COVID-19 virus. However, it is not a guarantee. To keep your loved one and our care home safe, we ask that you please follow the below guidelines:
- Stay home if you are feeling unwell, including if you have a fever, a cough or a change in your taste and smell.
- Follow national guidance outside of your visit, including limiting your contact with other people and wearing a mask in public if possible.
- Observe social distancing with anyone outside of your household or bubble and wash your hands regularly.
During your visit – Do’s and Don’ts
Inside the care home, we ask that you continue to wear your face covering and any other PPE that you were asked to wear by a member of staff. Please continue with our visiting policy throughout the visit.
Other behaviours that are allowed during your visit:
- Provided you are wearing appropriate PPE, and following other infection control measures then it will be possible for you to be have physical contact with your loved ones, such as providing personal care, holding hands and a hug.
Behaviours that are not allowed during your visit:
- Taking off any PPE according to guidance from the member of staff.
- Entering any part of the home that is not designated for your visit.
The Board of Management have Zero tolerance towards any form of abuse to staff members and/or family members not following our Health & Safety guidance. Should any member be found to breach our Health and Safety guidelines, they may be asked to leave the home. Our staff have worked extremely hard to protect your loved ones in this extremely difficult time and it is imperative that you follow the guidance directed by the Board of Management to ensure the safety of yourself, your relative, our staff and their families.
I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding in working with everyone at the home to ensure your loved one remains safe. We will continue to work hard to support and facilitate meaningful visits with our residents in line with Government guidance.
Yours sincerely,
Danielle Longthorn
Registered Home Manager