We are hearing reports of visitation being denied in care homes experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus.
Meaningful contact with people important to you is a fundamental human right, and has an enormous impact on our health and wellbeing. Even in outbreak situations, individuals in care homes should be supported to receive visitors, and unnecessary restrictions should not be imposed.
Current Scottish Government guidance states that, where there is an outbreak within the home, residents can select up to 3 named visitors, and one named visitor can visit the resident in their private room each day. Regardless of outbreak status, essential visiting should continue to be supported.
You can download a factsheet outlining your rights on the Care Inspectorate website.
If anyone has been affected by unreasonable restrictions to visiting their loved ones, we would encourage you to get in touch with our 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline: 0808 808 3000. This service is open for information, signposting and emotional support everyday over the festive period, including Christmas Day.