Relative letter from Ascot Care

Dear Relative,

We appreciate how difficult it has been for you having a loved one living in the care home at this time, and we recognise how upsetting it has been for residents who have missed that face to face contact with their families. We wish to assure you that we are working hard and doing everything we can to keep our residents and staff safe in our care home.

We have robust infection control policies and procedures in place, including social distancing and are constantly reviewing these in line with Government guidance.

As you know we took the decision in March to close our doors to non-essential visitors in order to prioritise residents and staff safety which remains our main priority. We are doing all we can to keep you and your loved ones connected, with residents using technology with the support of staff members.

Following the recent changes in the Government guidance to unlock the general lockdown in the community, we are reviewing our visiting policies in line with these changes and looking at ways to ease the restrictions we currently have in place, although the care home remains in protected status.

We have a testing process in place, in which we are testing staff members on a weekly basis, and residents on a 4 weekly basis.

The reintroduction of visiting will depend on the COVID 19 status of the home. We will be introducing visits responsibly and will provide a safe space for you to come into the home. Visits will take place in an identified room which will be set out to ensure we continue to follow social distancing rules.

The visits must be pre-arranged and should only take place at an agreed time using the identified entrance door. We will make sure a member of staff greets you to support you with the appropriate personal protective equipment which you will need to wear.  Strict hand hygiene will also be in place.

We will provide you with updated information directly as soon as we are in a positive position to move forward with these tentative next steps.

We are grateful to residents and relatives for their support, understanding and ongoing efforts as we work to maintain a happy home.  Day to day life continues in our home and we are trying to keep spirits up with activities and celebrations, in a safe clean environment.

If you have any queries or concerns about this letter, please contact the Registered Manager or alternatively Head Office on the number below.

Sending you our very best wishes to you and your family.

Ian Proudfoot

Operations and Estates Manager.