Hope is on the horizon as Oakland Care Homes begin to reinstate first face-to-face visits with pioneering new Summerhouse scheme

We’re pleased to announce our plans to offer safe face-to-face visits in the next few weeks at all Oakland Care Homes. Since March, our Care Homes have remained closed for all visits from family and friends in order to ensure the safe care and welfare of our residents and staff and we have successfully remained Coronavirus free at all our care homes throughout this shielding period.

We are however, incredibly conscious of the impact that no face-to-face visits is having on our residents and their loved ones, which is why we are so pleased to announce our plans to be one of the first care home providers to reinstate safe face-to-face visits via a specially adapted Summerhouse in the garden of each our Care Homes.

Each Summerhouse will have two separate entrances and a transparent partition inside to create two separate sections, each accessed through its own doorway.  One half will be for resident usage and the other for up to two visitors from the same household.  The cabin will be accessed by visitors via the garden gate to avoid entry into the Care Home.  There will be no contact between the two sections, no cross contamination of air or droplets.

Robust cleaning processes will in place for the comfortable and homely cabins, with a maximum of five visits per day.  This will allow some face-to-face visits to take place for residents who are mobile or can be assisted to the cabin via wheelchair.

The hope is our Summerhouses, although not suitable for all residents, will be hugely beneficial for our residents and families that can take part.  Once the pandemic is over the divider will be removed and the Summerhouse will be retained and dressed for long term leisure usage.

More information will be available very soon on the Summerhouse visiting scheme and we will keep you updated as developments are made on this exciting new project.