Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the mental health effects of restrictions on care home visits during the covid-19 outbreak on care home residents suffering from (a) Alzheimers and (b) dementia-related diseases.
We recognise the hardship visiting restrictions pose for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.
We want to enable residents in care homes to have visits, while protecting them, other residents, staff and visitors from COVID-19. Clinical advice is clear that extra footfall in care homes increases risk. That is why we have published guidance to advise care homes on visiting during this period of new national restrictions, and how to reduce the risk. This guidance is intended to enable visiting, recognising the benefits to health and wellbeing of both residents and their loved ones.