We really want all of our residents to have a great Christmas and start the new year safely and in good health. With the new Omicron variant we want to make absolutely sure we act responsibly so that we can continue to protect our residents.

Many of our residents fall into the extremely vulnerable category and all of them rely on us to continue our protected guidance. So, we will encourage and facilitate visits wherever possible and do so in a risk-managed way. It is hugely important that we make sure we all follow the current guidance requirements below.

• Visitors should still make arrangements with the care home in advance of the visit. Booking a visit will still be required so that team members can manage LFD testing.
• All visitors will still be required to take an LFD test and complete temperature and welfare checks on the day of the visit. The duration of visits will not be limited.
• Visitors should have a negative lateral flow test on the day of their visit, either by conducting the test at home or when they arrive at the care home.

• Infection Control procedures will remain in place, including the use of disposable masks and aprons, which should be worn throughout the duration of the visit
• Visits will take place in the resident’s room so that it is practical and comfortable for the resident
• Visits will be reduced to one visit a day for a maximum of two visitors
• Lovett Care support handholding to help health and wellbeing. Disposable gloves are not needed as long as infection prevention and control measures are followed, such as hand washing and sanitising before holding hands, visiting in a ventilated space, and using appropriate PPE for the visit.  

Visits Out of The Care Home. Most types of visits will not require isolation on return to the care home. But there are some activities where the risks are much higher, such as emergency stays in hospital. In these cases we advise the resident should self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the care home. This means that if they have unknowingly become infected while out of the home, they reduce the chances of passing that infection on to other residents and team members.

Essential Care Givers We understand that the essential care giver role is vitally important to supporting residents’ health and wellbeing. We will support every resident to have an essential care giver who may visit the home to offer companionship or help with care needs.  

The care home will ask each resident who they would like their essential care giver to be. We will also support essential care givers to follow the same testing arrangements as our team members.

Essential care givers will be able to visit inside the care home even during periods of self-isolation and outbreak. Visits inside our home will be safer if you have received both vaccines. We strongly recommend that visitors receive 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, plus their booster where applicable. We respectfully ask that at these visits you provide the General Manager with proof that you have received 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

For more guidance about essential care givers please visit:

How to work safely in care homes

PCR testing, rapid lateral flow testing (including rapid response testing) and outbreak testing

How to safely put on and remove PPE

Video demonstration

If you have any questions or you are concerned about any part of our guidance, we want to hear from you. Please speak with the General Manager of the home who will listen to you and provide you with additional information if you require.