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The Center for Health Protection Surveillance has released a new guide on nursing home visits as of December 7.
Until now, window visits were only allowed between levels 3 and 5.
In an updated guide, HPSC says that a one-person visit per week should be facilitated for residents who wish to receive visitors in Levels 3 and 4.
It says that up to one visit from one person every two weeks should be provided for those who wish to receive visitors when they are on Level 5.
It says that in the context of the Level 3 framework, a more flexible interpretation of “critical and compassionate circumstances” is appropriate compared to the Level 4 and 5 framework.
The HSPC recommends that visits be limited to one hour but with adequate flexibility, for example in relation to situations such as end of life.
It says there is no requirement that compassionate visits always be conducted by the same person.
“There is no reason to expect the risk of introducing Covid-19 to be reduced if the same person makes all visits for compassionate reasons,” he says.
He says the ability to have someone else visit can help those who have concerns about their health on the day of a scheduled visit.
The Executive Director of the Irish Hospice Foundation has welcomed the update.
According to Sharon Foley, the change means that heartache for both families and residents will ease somewhat in the lead up to Christmas.
“While previous restrictions were limited to those allowed solely for compassionate and critical reasons, the changes mean that our most vulnerable people will be able to interact more with their loved ones,” said Ms. Foley.
The minister in charge of the elderly, Mary Butler, said the new guide identifies more opportunities for managed social interaction and residents receive visits from family members.
She has requested that all nursing home providers make all practical efforts to facilitate visitation in a safe manner in accordance with the new guidance during the Christmas period and beyond.
Meanwhile, Sage Advocacy is urging nursing home operators to facilitate meaningful and safe visitation between nursing home residents in accordance with the new guidelines.
It notes that the HPSC says that nursing home operators should make all practical efforts “on compassionate grounds” to facilitate visits to the long-term residential care facility during the Christmas / New Years period “for those residents to who this period “.
Sage Advocacy CEO Sarah Lennon said: “We appreciate that the definition of compassionate circumstances is open to interpretation, but it should not apply solely to end-of-life circumstances. For example, the HPSC clearly describes that it should also apply when a resident nominated person expresses concern that a prolonged absence is causing discomfort or harm to a resident. “
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