Visiting under COVID-19

Following guidance issued by the Department of Health and results of our visiting survey, Knockmoyle Lodge Care Facility has reviewed our visiting policy. So, we will continue to aim to support our residents to see their families again in person.

However, it is important to note that all of our residents remain in the high-risk category from COVID 19 (Coronavirus) due to age, and medical conditions. Therefore, our visits will be phased, strictly managed and reviewed daily in accordance with guidance and the wellbeing of residents.

Staff, visitors and outer public as much as possible.
The following updated policy will be effective from 24/04/2021 and provides all information you need to know as a visitor.

Please see general visitor guidelines below, and please note ALL FACE-TO-FACE VISITS must be booked in advance by calling +44 28 8224 7931.

Visiting Policy

Knockmoyle Lodge has carefully considered how we can implement visiting as safely as possible. Our policy has been developed following a thorough risk assessment of the nursing home. This assessment aimed to minimise the risk of infection, and ensure the safety of our residents, staff, visitors and outer public as much as possible.

The following updated policy will be effective from 24/04/2021 and provides all information you need to know as a visitor.

A Video Guide For Users

What to expect when you are visiting Knockmoyle Lodge. Please note that you should use the hand sanitising stations on arrival and departure.

Principles for Visiting:

Where possible virtual visiting remains the preferred option as this will support us in reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Our face-to-face visits MUST be prearranged to reduce the number of people entering the home and to allow for adequate cleaning between visits. Our prearranged visits must be booked via telephone which will allow you to make an appointment for the next available visiting slot. Please note visiting slots cannot be block booked this is to ensure all residents have an opportunity to receive visitors.

One family visit per week will continue, however additional visits can be request on a waiting list basis. As visiting slots become available, they will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to be placed on the visiting list, please let the Staff Nurse know when booking entail visit. This has been implemented to support visits whenever possible.

Booking Your Visits

When booking your visiting slot, you will be asked to complete a screening questionnaire via telephone. Upon your arrival you will then be asked to declare that all information remains unchanged, our staff will then sign to prevent sharing of pens and risk of cross contamination and we will also record your temperature at this point.

Visits will be restricted to one family visit per week for a 1-hour slot. This 1-hour slot will also allow for cleaning time between each visit and for lateness or extended visit time if requested. This will be reviewed regularly as changes occur.

Visiting Essentials

Please note these essential criteria for visiting Knockmoyle Lodge:

- Visitors must wear face masks that they must provide themselves and masks must be in place before entering the home.

No visitors under the age of 16 will be permitted and only in exceptional circumstances will children be granted visits.
You are asked not to bring anything with you into the home, such as food parcels or presents. Some items may be permissible if discussed with the nurse manager following a through risk assessment. This is to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

Visit Formats

A range of visits can now be facilitated. They include:

Indoor visits with or without the Perspex screen (depending on the individual’s risk assessment and ability to adhere to social distancing)
Outdoor visits in accordance with two metre social distancing
Window visits
Care Partner visits
Virtual visits
Telephone

Visitors may choose which form of visit they prefer. This is to support the best visit possible.

Please note: The home manager will continue to manage visiting arrangements in the best way that they see fit, recognising the importance of residents physical and emotional wellbeing whilst managing day to day risks. Visits on certain days may need to be reduced to accommodate, multi-disciplinary team visits for example Social Worker/GP, staffing levels and staffing training to name but a few.

Protocol on Arrival:

The visitor must go to the main entrance and press the buzzer to make staff aware they have arrived.

The first sitting room is now our designated visiting room, staff will open the first sitting room door that can be accessed from outside, this will ensure the visitor is stepping straight into the visitors room from outside eliminating footfall through the nursing home.

Visitors must use the hand sanitiser located outside and then confirm the screening questionnaire information pre given and a staff member will also check and record your temperature.

Visitors must only enter when their mask is in place and they must use the hand sanitizer then upon entering the visiting room. If your chosen visit requires social distancing, please ensure that social distancing is always adhered to at all times.

Please note: that any breaches of this policy may results in shortened visits and our policy being reviewed.

If visitors wish to discuss the well being of the resident with the manager or nurse in charge, please do this via telephone, this will ensure visiting time is maximised with your loved one.

The visitor’s room has screen protection in place to accommodate social distancing and reduce the spread of infection and visits may require supervision depending on the residents needs.

Toilet facilities cannot be used by visitors. Again, this is to reduce the spread of infection.

Protocol on Departure

Staff will make you aware when visiting time is over, you must use the hand sanitizer provided before you leave and please ensure you keep your mask in place until you have left the building.

You will exit from the door from the same door you entered.

Additional Visiting Arrangements

Should a resident wish to have a visit from a Minister of Faith, an agreed and pre-arranged visit can be accommodated. This visit will not be counted as or replace a resident’s scheduled visit with family/friends. Visiting Ministers of Faith must adhere to the detail of the care home’s visiting policy.

End of Life Visiting

Families must seek permission in advance from the nurse in charge to visit end of life residents in their own room.

The nurse in charge will complete a thorough risk assessment to ensure it is complexly safe to allow this visit. The capacity of family to provide informed consent relating to the risks associated with visiting will be taken into account as will the capacity of the patient to receive visitors.

If visiting is then approved by the nurse in charge suitable times for visiting will be discussed, only one visitor will be permitted at a time for an agreed amount of time. The nursing home may limit the frequency of visits, duration of visits, or numbers of visitors in accordance with the risk to other patients, other care staff, or other practical considerations in the care home.

In all cases, visitors must agree to undertake all actions ad precautions issued by the nursing home for visiting and end of life visiting. Any decision to deny visiting rights will be made following a risk assessment and which will be communicated clearly with the resident and their family members/friends.

Our visitor’s policy will remain under constant review and we will continue to update you on any changes in line with current guidance.

A Special Note of Thanks

This has been an extremely difficult period for everyone. We at Knockmoyle Lodge Care Facility greatly appreciate how supportive you have been. We fully comprehend that you want to see your loved one as soon as possible. We ask for your patience with our phased visiting approach. Our number one priority is the safety of our residents.

We look forward to hearing from you and thank you once again for your continued support.