Is it legal for a nursing home to ban weekend visits?

Galbin

My loved one is in a nursing home, but is only allowed visits during the week. As a result, I can't see them as much as I want to as it is very hard to visit someone during the week when visiting stops at 5:30. However, another relative of mine is in a nursing home elsewhere in the country and people can visit him seven days a week and basically anytime they want.

I know homes have severe restrictions for obvious reasons, but is this even legal under COVID regulations? The last time I was there my relative cried as I left and I am sure it's because she used to get tons of visitors but now because of the restrictions she doesn't see many people. I am so frustrated.

For reference, she has been double jabbed and I have my COVID passport. Visits are also no contact with a screen between us.

Isambard

hard to see how it could be illegal, as part of a commercial arrangement.

I guess you're free to go elsewhere but it's very a very difficult thing.

whippet

it's fairly common at the moment.

Visits during covid are different and you need staff available to manage the visits. Where my mam is resident they try to limit the number of weekend visits to only those who can't make it during the week to ensure they have enough staff available to deal with it

Galbin

Thanks, guys. It seems that it's all blind luck then. If you are in a nursing home that prioritises mental health then your loved one gets visitors anytime, but if not there is nothing you can do. it just frustrates me when everyone has been double jabbed, so there is no need to have such restrictions.

I have no control over the home she stays in, unfortunately. If I did she wouldn't be there.

Victor

The thing about vaccination is that it moderates the illness, it doesn't completely prevent it. While you and your loved one might be vaccinated, there might be residents in the home that can't be vaccinated.

Pre-COVID-19, many nursing homes relied on the more senior nursing students to make up staff numbers at weekends. As those students spend time on hospitals during the week, they now can't also work in nursing homes, putting those homes under enormous pressure.

Staff numbers have to be higher at visiting times to prevent abuse, theft, etc.

ForestFire

Taking Covid out of this for a minute (Everyone is vaccinated now, practically), it seems very suspect to me.

Its a nursing "Home" and the residents should have as much freedom as they need, within reason.

Restricting visits to weekday working hours seem way over the top to me, as most families are actually free during the weekends.

How is this faire on these residents, that they cannot see their families.

Why can the home not restrict visits on and Tuesdays and Thursday instead!! Why the weekend only? (COVID is not out for weekends only)

I think they know by doing this, it gives them the best outcome for less visitors to be honest.

Darc19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117815026#Comment_117815026

You simply cannot take covid out of it - that would be utterly stupid, nonsensical and dangerous.

88% are vaccinated. Vaccines are NOT 100% effective. Circa 93% or lower efficacy and drops after 3 months. Nursing homes had most of their staff and stayers fully vaccinated in April. They could be under 80% effectiveness now, hence a booster shot coming.

So maybe you need to rethink your post. Nursing home residents are most vulnerable to covid and it can spread like wildfire - especially Delta.

ForestFire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117815073#Comment_117815073

No I don't need to rethink anything, because seemingly the nursing home is open and free to everyone Monday to Friday 9-17 (COVID Safe?), But on weekends they need to close?

This person cannot visit during the week, so what differences does it make if they visit at the weekend instead, they will still be their on the premises at some point.

And to the stats

100% of nursing homes residents are vaccinated, unless there is a medical reason or it was refused.

Vaccines will never be 100% effective, so what are we to do in the future, never visit our loved ones in home again?

And just to reiterate again, the main point in the OP is why are Visits allowed during working hours (For visitors) only and do not allow accommodate others who cannot see their families and loved one, if they happen work?

Its unfair to both the Residents affected and to their families.

Also many other nursing home around the country do not have these retractions so why is there a need here.

Darc19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117815124#Comment_117815124

so covid doesn't exist and you think elderly people that have many issues should face strangers that may or may not be vaccinated, may or may not carry the delta variant and that the nursing homes should go back to the policy of having agency staff going from one home to another whilst we are still learning about the efficacy of the vaccines that have been given 6 months ago (current estimate is under 75%)

If people really wanted to, they could change their work hours for a day a week.

Or is it too much hassle?

and before you ask, I do have a family member in a medical facility and two people can visit for 30 minutes once a week at very specific times which have to be booked up to a week in advance. We take time off work to do it. Mostly it means taking 2 hours for lunch and coming in an hour early. Not a big chore.

ForestFire

Look we are not going to agree.

My point is simply.

What difference does it make if its Mon to Fri or Saturday to Sunday if you visit?

Most nursing homes I know (and staff working in them) are open more or less as normal and at the weekends to visitors

Also it's nothing to do with strangers and agency staff, it's families we are talking about.

Hospitals restrict visiting times, hard to see how nursing home restrictions would be any more, or less legal.

BattleCorp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117815165#Comment_117815165

I don't mean to be rude but it looks like you are missing the point.

Yes, there is a risk of a visitor bringing in COVID-19 to the nursing home but that risk is no greater at the weekend than it is during the week. So, clearly the restricting of visitors to Monday - Friday 09.00 to 17.00 is an operational issue rather than a COVID-19 protection measure.

And it isn't always possible to change their working hours for one day a week. Simple for some, impossible for others.

I'd be of the opinion that it is bad form to not accommodate people having visitors at the weekend, but clearly the nursing home are entitled to set their visiting hours as they please so I doubt restricting visitors to weekdays is illegal.