NCF: National lockdown must not include locking out care home visitors – Alzheimer’s Society comments

A coalition of over 60 organisations, brought together by the National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading member association for not-for-profit social care providers – sent an open letter to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Helen Whately, Minister for Care, calling on the government to ensure that care homes are supported to enable visits by families and loved ones, now and in the future.

Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society said:

“The harsh reality is that blanket bans on care home visitors is causing devastation to people living with dementia, who have been worst hit by the virus and make up 70% of care home residents. We know that family carers keep people with dementia in care homes tethered to the world and it’s no exaggeration to say they are keeping them alive. The Government must urgently allow care home visits from designated family carers – banning visits is misunderstanding how to best protect people with dementia in care homes.”