Visitors | Aspen Hill Village Care Home

Visitation Special Measures in place

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges that it poses, has resulted in care homes stopping all non-urgent visitation. For some residents despite increased activities and our best efforts in providing stimulation, there is increased loneliness, anxiety, and the increased risk of depression. The National Testing Programme has started to roll-out visitor testing at Aspen Hill Village. This will enable ourselves to offer regular testing of visitors, and when combined with other infection prevention and control measures (such as PPE), can support more meaningful visits with loved ones.

What does testing involve?

You will be asked to take a test using a new technology called a Lateral Flow Test (LFT). You will be tested before visiting to check if you currently have Covid-19.

For this, we will ask you to do a throat and nose swab every time you visit Aspen Hill Village, which will be sent to a testing centre remotely, and then we will let you know the outcome of your result in 30-60 minutes from the time of taking the test. We will ask you to complete the swabbing yourself, supervised by a trained staff member. A swab is a small piece of soft, absorbent material on a plastic stick that is used to take a sample from your nose and throat.

The test is very straightforward, and you will be supported throughout the process by a member of staff from the care home. Full instructions will be provided to you upon arrival at your scheduled visit.

The appointment request facility, is primarily designed for relatives, who wish to visit the home during the Coronavirus pandemic at Aspen Hill Village and is in alignment with the current COVID – 19 guidance and legislation. Once the appointment request has been submitted, you should receive a confirmation within 24 hours.

A. Advice and Guidance prior to visiting:

The following steps apply whilst Local Restrictions are in place.
In the event of an outbreak in any one of our Houses, the home will move rapidly move to stop visiting (except in exceptional circumstances such as end of life) to protect vulnerable residents, staff and visitors.
We suggest you make full use of the latest technology such as, Skype which is available at Aspen Hill Village to promote social contact and face-to-face support to lower the risk to your loved one.
At present this facility is for residents who are mobile or can be easily transferred into a wheelchair. Residents who are not mobile, separate arrangements will be made by contacting the visiting booking team.
To accommodate all family members visits are subject to availability and preference will be given to family members who have not visited the home already during the special visitation measures.
Only two visitors allowed per visit and any appointments can only be booked through this page.
Each visit can last a maximum of 30 mins to enable as many relatives to visit their loved ones.
When visiting the home for your scheduled visit, please ensure you wear warm outdoor clothing. Blankets will be available should they be required.

B. When you arrive at Aspen Hill Village

As you enter, please turn right and please only park in the designated visitors parking spaces identified as per the signage.
Two family members will be permitted for each visit. You will report to the onsite Covid – 19 Testing Centre located in the Administration Building, which will be sign posted Registration and Testing.
You will be required to attend the Registration and Testing area 60 minutes prior to your scheduled visiting time.
You will be asked to wash your hands.
You will be provided with PPE and asked to put it on as advised by member of staff. This will include gloves, mask and apron. Instructions and pictorial guides will be provided on how to correctly put on and take off PPE. A staff member will assist you with this.
Your temperature will be taken by a member of staff. If you have a temperature higher than 37.7 degrees you will be asked to leave the care home as you may have symptoms of Covid-19.
If no temperature and no symptoms of Covid – 19, you will be asked to sign a consent form to take the test and share personal information with us so we can record and inform you of your result.
You will also complete our visiting code of conduct in preparation for your visit.
You will then be checked in for your visit to see your loved one.

C. You will then be asked to register for your test

This is how NHS Test & Trace can link you to your test sample and collect contact details to send you your result.
This will be an online form on an iPhone device that we will provide.
If you cannot complete this form yourself, a staff member can assist you.
To complete the registration form, our staff will provide you with:
– 4 copies of your test kit barcode — used to track your individual test
– The test site ID number — used to link your test to the care home
– Test registration card – used to save a copy of your barcode for your personal records
Please make sure you keep the barcode copies with you.

D. Take your Test:

After you check in, you will be provided with a swab.
You will then need to take your own throat and nose swab, supervised by one of our trained staff members. We will walk you through how to swab yourself which will only take about 30 seconds to complete.
Once you have handed over the swab, you will be directed to the Area 2, where Light Refreshments will be available whilst you wait for your result. Once you have collected your light refreshments, you should then proceed to the Results Waiting Area until your result is ready which will take approximately 30-60 minutes from the point of testing.
If your test result is returned back in less time, then we kindly request you remain in the Results Area until your scheduled appointment.

E. What does my result mean?
We will inform you of your result and NHS Test & Trace will also send your result via SMS and/or the e-mail that you provided on the online registration form.

Positive – you will not be able to visit. You must go home immediately and self-isolate. You will have to take a second test which is a confirmatory PCR test which we will provide and register for you. You will receive your result in around 72 hours and you need to self-isolate until you get your result. If you test positive, NHS Test & Trace may contact you to ask you for your contacts.
Inconclusive – we will ask you to undertake another LFT test. If this is inconclusive too, we will discuss your visit with you.
Negative – your visit will be enable you to proceed with your scheduled visit, as long as you comply with all other infection prevention and control measures and our visiting code of conduct. This does not guarantee that you definitely do not have Covid-19, so we still need to make sure visits take place in a safe way, such as ensuring you wear your PPE at all times. If you have any questions about this, please do ask. You will be escorted to the unit to visit your loved one.

F. Visiting Areas
The visiting area has been identified as the Front Lounge as you enter each House. No visitor will be permitted to proceed any further into the each House unless directed by staff. Please kindly observe the following visiting guidelines:-

Please only remain in the designated visiting area.
The area will be cleaned prior and post visit.
You will have a 30-minute visit with your loved one.
Whilst the visit is taking place on the respective House this does not need to be supervised and will be accommodated in the front lounge of each House. Special arrangements will be made for those residents who are not mobile.
Once the visit is over, visitors should exit the unit and dispose of their PPE in the clinical waste (yellow) bins provided outside each House entrance.

It’s important to recognise that a negative test will provide us with some assurance as to whether you are carrying the COVID-19 virus. However, it is not a guarantee. To keep your loved one and our care home safe, we ask that you please follow the below guidelines:

Stay home if you are feeling unwell, including if you have a fever, a cough or a change in your taste and smell.
Follow national guidance outside of your visit, including limiting your contact with other people and wearing a mask in public if possible.
Observe social distancing with anyone outside of your household or bubble and wash your hands regularly.

G. During your visit – Do’s and Don’ts

Inside the care home, we ask that you continue to wear your face covering and any other PPE that you were asked to wear by a member of staff. Please continue with our visiting policy throughout the visit.

Other behaviours that are allowed during your visit:

Provided you are wearing appropriate PPE, and following other infection control measures then it will be possible for you to be have physical contact with your loved ones, such as providing personal care, holding hands and a hug.

Behaviours that are not allowed during your visit:

Taking off any PPE according to guidance from the member of staff.
Entering any part of the home that is not designated for your visit.

The Board of Management have Zero tolerance towards any form of abuse to staff members and/or family members not following our Health & Safety guidance. Should any member be found to breach our Health and Safety guidelines, they may be asked to leave the home. Our staff, Our Heroes have worked extremely hard to protect your loved ones in this extremely difficult time and we kindly request that you respect and follow the guidance provided to ensure the safety of yourself, your relative, our staff and their families.

General Practitioners and District Nurses and any regulatory agencies who are performing testing and/or audits, do not require appointments prior to visiting the home.

All visitors to the home are requested to observe protected meal times. Visits can take place between the following hours, Monday to Saturday.

10.00 – 11.30
14.00 – 16.00

We would like to thank you in advance for supporting our staff and protecting your loved ones, by observing the above guidelines.

Stay Safe,

Danielle Longthorn
Registered Home Manager