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| Care homes and coronavirus: 'We think of residents’ emotional wellbeing' | Care homes and coronavirus: 'We think of residents’ emotional wellbeing' |
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| How one nursing home in the Surrey Hills is reassuring its elderly residents about the outbreak | How one nursing home in the Surrey Hills is reassuring its elderly residents about the outbreak |
| Rosamund Davies, 91, would not be happy if the government banned her family from visiting her at the Birtley House nursing home, set in 48 acres of beautiful Surrey Hills countryside. | Rosamund Davies, 91, would not be happy if the government banned her family from visiting her at the Birtley House nursing home, set in 48 acres of beautiful Surrey Hills countryside. |
| “I would be very cross if visits from my children were restricted,” she said. “And I would be furious if I was told I had to stay in my room, self-isolating. | “I would be very cross if visits from my children were restricted,” she said. “And I would be furious if I was told I had to stay in my room, self-isolating. |
| “I’m not worried in the least about this virus. When you get to my age, things have to be a lot worse than this to worry you – like an earthquake. At my age, the only people whose health I worry about are my children and grandchildren. If I catch this virus and shuffle off this mortal coil, then I’d be perfectly happy.” | “I’m not worried in the least about this virus. When you get to my age, things have to be a lot worse than this to worry you – like an earthquake. At my age, the only people whose health I worry about are my children and grandchildren. If I catch this virus and shuffle off this mortal coil, then I’d be perfectly happy.” |
| Davies doesn’t need to worry about her social life being curtailed quite yet. Simon Whalley, the chairman of the Birtley House group – and grandson of the firm’s founder, Dr Lloyd Driver – is determined to keep the home open to residents’ loved ones for as long as it remains safe to do so. | Davies doesn’t need to worry about her social life being curtailed quite yet. Simon Whalley, the chairman of the Birtley House group – and grandson of the firm’s founder, Dr Lloyd Driver – is determined to keep the home open to residents’ loved ones for as long as it remains safe to do so. |
| “We’ve restricted all non-essential visits,” he said. “But we’ve got to think of our residents’ mental and emotional health: stopping all visits before the government advice has said it’s necessary could have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing.” | “We’ve restricted all non-essential visits,” he said. “But we’ve got to think of our residents’ mental and emotional health: stopping all visits before the government advice has said it’s necessary could have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing.” |
| Nevertheless, the home is ready if the advice changes. “We are in a very fluid situation and constantly update everyone,” said Whalley. At least three weeks of dried food has been stockpiled. Medicine supplies are ordered a month in advance; local pharmacies have a duty of care to inform the home if it looks like they won’t be able to deliver new supplies on time, so the local GP can be informed. | Nevertheless, the home is ready if the advice changes. “We are in a very fluid situation and constantly update everyone,” said Whalley. At least three weeks of dried food has been stockpiled. Medicine supplies are ordered a month in advance; local pharmacies have a duty of care to inform the home if it looks like they won’t be able to deliver new supplies on time, so the local GP can be informed. |
| The home has also introduced its own safety measures. Staff restrict their movements to specific areas of the building. If a staff member contracts the virus, only the part of the home they work in would have to be deep-cleaned. | The home has also introduced its own safety measures. Staff restrict their movements to specific areas of the building. If a staff member contracts the virus, only the part of the home they work in would have to be deep-cleaned. |
| Already all deliveries are left outside the home. An external postbox has been set up so even letters and cards are only bought into the home by staff. | Already all deliveries are left outside the home. An external postbox has been set up so even letters and cards are only bought into the home by staff. |
| If a resident at the home wants to self-isolate in their room or, if they lack mental capacity and their family ask for it – one elderly gentleman has already taken this option – the home is already well practised in barrier nursing. | If a resident at the home wants to self-isolate in their room or, if they lack mental capacity and their family ask for it – one elderly gentleman has already taken this option – the home is already well practised in barrier nursing. |
| “We need to isolate or barrier nurse to reduce the risk of spreading infections which can contaminate others, such MRSA, shingles, influenza, norovirus outbreak, as well as the coronavirus,” said Whalley. | |
| Staff in these instances wear protective clothing including gloves, apron and mask. Visitors must check before entering the room, and residents in isolation are not allowed to wander around the care home. | Staff in these instances wear protective clothing including gloves, apron and mask. Visitors must check before entering the room, and residents in isolation are not allowed to wander around the care home. |
| Reluctant to bring in people from the outside if their own staff fall ill, the home has been preparing their employees to cover each other’s work where possible: everyone from the nutritionist to the maintenance staff and menu takers are ready to pick up any slack to keep the home running smoothly. | |
| “Everyone is very concerned and very keen to do everything they can to help,” said Sylwia Indycka, the home’s registered manager. “We had a meeting yesterday and at least half of those there were staff who had came in on their day off to attend.” | “Everyone is very concerned and very keen to do everything they can to help,” said Sylwia Indycka, the home’s registered manager. “We had a meeting yesterday and at least half of those there were staff who had came in on their day off to attend.” |
| As well as the regular meetings between managers and staff, residents and their families are also being kept closely in the loop. “What’s vital is that whatever we do is totally transparent,” said Indycka. “We need our residents to trust us and to stay calm and positive. That’s good for their mental health and their physical resilience.” | As well as the regular meetings between managers and staff, residents and their families are also being kept closely in the loop. “What’s vital is that whatever we do is totally transparent,” said Indycka. “We need our residents to trust us and to stay calm and positive. That’s good for their mental health and their physical resilience.” |
| Helen Hughes, 92, said she feels very reassured by the measures the home has taken. “I’m quite calm,” she said, sitting with her alcohol hand gel on the table next to her and a print out, in large print, of precautionary hand washing. “My daughter and son-in-law were here this morning and they live in London. We’re all very aware of the virus. I know it’s extremely serious but I’m not worried about it.” | Helen Hughes, 92, said she feels very reassured by the measures the home has taken. “I’m quite calm,” she said, sitting with her alcohol hand gel on the table next to her and a print out, in large print, of precautionary hand washing. “My daughter and son-in-law were here this morning and they live in London. We’re all very aware of the virus. I know it’s extremely serious but I’m not worried about it.” |