Retirement homes open for visits – “necessary”

The national ban on visiting nursing homes will end as of October 1, Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren (S) announced at a press conference.Image: Fredrik Sandberg / TT

The decision is supported by evaluations from the National Board of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Public Health Agency.

– I’d say it needs to stop. The ban has had dire consequences for the elderly and their families, says Johan Carlson, director general of the Swedish Public Health Agency.

A small spread of infection, better hygiene routines, and greater sampling opportunities are important reasons for the attitude of the expert authorities. As a replacement for the restraining order, new regulations and recommendations are being implemented, such as senior housing should or is expected to follow in terms of, among other things, risk analysis, competition and leadership.

For family members there are no longer any mandatory restrictions, only the usual recommendations of the Public Health Agency to keep their distance and isolate themselves in case of symptoms. Therefore, nursing homes can only appeal that not too many visitors arrive at the same time in the first days of October. Something that worries municipalities, according to the interest group Municipalities and Regions of Sweden.

Therefore, to prevent an attack, family members should initially organize scheduled meetings, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency.

– In principle, it is possible to penetrate anyway, but we assume that there is a dialogue between family members and the accommodation. In some cases it can be troublesome, but basically I think it will work fine, says Johan Carlson.

With future covid-19 outbreaks likely to occur locally and regionally, the Swedish Public Health Agency is also reviewing the possibility of local restraining orders for nursing homes. But the issue is legally complex and the authority still does not know if in that case there will be a formal restraining order or if it will be a strong recommendation instead.

– My firm opinion is that people understand the seriousness even if it is not a formal prohibition that the police can enforce, says Johan Carlson.

The introduction of local restraining orders for uninfected nursing homes that are at risk of spreading the infection is not possible according to the Infection Control Act, according to the Minister of Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren (S), who also does not plan no change in law.

– There are many things you can do with the Infection Control Act. But it is not a review that is being done right now and it will not be possible for municipalities to use October 1, she says.

The social affairs minister says she is very happy to be able to announce the termination of the restraining order, although she herself has not planned any private visits to the nursing homes in the future.

– I hope that what replaces the restraining order means that we will not need a new one, says Hallengren.

Senior Researcher Ingmar Skoog is also pleased with today’s news. He has previously been very critical of restriction.

– When this is evaluated, it must be ensured that such intervening decisions are reconsidered more frequently. Not every third month like now, but every month, she says.

Tove Harnett, an associate professor of social work at Lund University with a focus on research on older people, is along the same lines, noting that the restraining order involved great sacrifices.

– It is important to note that nursing homes are not institutions like hospitals. They are homes where people live and live their lives. You must not get lost. We have worked hard to make sure nursing homes are the way they are today, he says.