Thread by @lewis_goodall

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CARE HOME VISITS?

There is so much heartache among care home families right now. In many cases, some haven't seen their loved ones since the spring. Those that have have done so at a distance, haven't even been able to hold their hands.

What's going on?

For obvious reasons visiting this year has been limited. What happened in spring was a disaster. Rightly, the onus has been on preventing it happening again.

But there's a cost. The huge psychological impact on families and as I've reported before, the health of those in care.

The govt recognised this and had promised new guidelines to allow visitation. These were published last week. The PM said the govt's guidance would: "strike the right balance between people’s real need to see their loved ones and the risk of spreading the disease in care homes."

But has it? The guidance did say homes should facilitate visits but the caveats were as long as your arm. Among other things they said:

-Preferably 1, max 2 contacts
-even then with PPE
-even then socially distant
-even then preferably outside (in winter)

-if outside is impossible then inside is permitted but with a "ceiling to floor" barrier.
-a "speaker" may be needed
-window visits are also encouraged

Much of this was already being done. Nothing materially changed. In reality, visiting in many places still isn't happening.

We've spoken to 8 of Britain's leading care providers. 6 of them told us they've made no changed since the guidance was published, they were doing much or all of it already. In the words of one: "Hasn’t changed anything since last week. It’s as it was."

This is for many reasons. Not all care homes have the space or the staff to facilitate outside visits. They don't have resources or space to erect screens. And frankly, they're all (rightly) terrified about the virus coming back in. So in many cases the policy is unchanged.

This was vividly brought home to me today when I caught up with Kate in Manchester. Two weeks ago I joined her on a window visit. She spent 20 mins with her son trying to speak to her mum through the windowpane on speakerphone.

Post-guidance? Still no visit.

In fact as a result of the fact more and more families wanting facetime/window visits, the length of time for these things has actually been cut to 15 mins of each per week. Kate hasn't even seen her Mum through the windowpane for a fortnight.

Obviously, this is having a scarring effect on families, who are painfully aware that every day is precious for those in homes approaching the end of their lives.

But as I've reported before, for those in homes, the lack of physical contact, routine and mental stimulation...

...of family visits is having terrible effect. In many cases, especially for those with dementia, it is accelerating their decline.

Paula who I interviewed today is in doubt that's the case with her husband, Terry.

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1327006122394456064?s=20

She'd never been separated from him in 30 years. She's seen his decline this year from afar. Imagine what that must be like. "I just want to be part of his life", she says.

Remember how many of those in care died this year had dementia, not necessarily from covid....

...lack of stimulation/visitation is part of that story.

This is a terrible balancing act. But charities want government to do two things a) revisit the guidance, make explicit that visitation is a right unless there's an outbreak and b) focus testing....

...on family members to allow at least one family member to (subject to fast turnaround tests) to visit at will and assist with the family member's care. Some care homes are doing this off their back, sourcing their own testing but clearly that won't happen everywhere.

This is a truly enormous issue. There is extraordinary heartbreak and tragedy taking place across the country every single day.

Lots more on this on Newsnight right now- tune in.

DHSC spokesperson: "We understand the pain and the very real consequences of loved ones being separated and we must get the balance right between reuniting families and ensuring care staff and residents are safe and preventing the transmission of from Covid-19."

“We are beginning a trial of testing visitors to care homes in the coming days to give families more opportunities to reunite with relatives.”

I'd just say again- it cannot be overestimated how profound the effects of this are, on both sides of the glass.

Daily Mail (for second day in a row) leads on the story.

A story from someone else in the same position:”My mum developed pneumonia in Jan and rapid onset of dementia meant she was discharged to a care home in March. Was allowed a couple of garden visits in summer hols - distanced, outside and PPE etc but she just didn’t understand...”

“...why I had to stand 10 feet away, covered in plastic. Spoke to home re. new rules. They would need to install a special plastic screen (£7k) and we’d have to speak via a phone. They’re not going to do it - cost prohibitive but also very concerned of dementia sufferers...”

“...speaking to loved ones through a plastic wall. V concerning. There’s been no thought gone into the new plans - residents and families are suffering enormously.”