Covid-19 (coronavirus) update – January 2021
NorseCare continues to focus on the care and wellbeing of residents, tenants and staff.
At all times, we want to reassure you that we are following Government guidance on how we respond to the pandemic, with our utmost priority being focussed on keeping people safe and well.
We are pleased to confirm that people can continue to be admitted to our homes and schemes.
Testing: In our care homes, our staff are currently being tested twice a week with Lateral Flow Device testing kits which provide a result within 30 minutes as well as a weekly Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) swab test.
In housing with care schemes, we are ready to start testing once we have received the testing kits from Government. In line with guidance, testing will be done weekly for staff and every 28 days for tenants.
Vaccinations: We are pleased to say that residents, tenants and staff are beginning to receive the Covid-19 vaccination. This is an encouraging development in the fight against the virus and we are encouraging everyone to have the vaccination when it is offered to them, but we must equally continue to be vigilant and observe all the guidelines provided to us.
Keeping in touch: We know that staying in touch with loved ones is a vital part of our residents’ and tenants’ wellbeing, and that of their families and friends. Using the latest guidance, we are helping visits to take place as follows:
• Outdoors – including at a window or in a visiting pod or similar type of arrangement
• Indoors in a designated room or area, provided that there is a substantial screen between the resident and their visitor
• In exceptional circumstances, including end of life.
In all circumstances, we are asking visitors to observe social distancing and to wear a face mask and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment during the visit. All areas are cleaned between visits and anti-bacterial hand gel is also available.
From 18 January 2021, we will be asking all internal visitors to our care homes to undertake a Lateral Flow Test before entering the home, which provide a result within 30 minutes.
There will be times when we have to temporarily pause visiting in our homes and schemes, in line with advice from the local public health teams. While supporting this, we will always do our best to lift these visiting limits as soon as possible. At all times, our staff will always be happy to help people to keep in touch with their loved one via video calling and phone calls.
For further information on visiting, we encourage families to speak to their home or scheme manager.
Infection control: You can be reassured that all of our homes and schemes have an ongoing and plentiful supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). We have robust infection control measures and enhanced cleaning regimes are in place in all our homes and schemes. Our staff are fully trained to ensure infection prevention and control measures are strictly followed.
