Kirklees Together

Kirklees care homes will start to welcome people to visit loved ones as lockdown restrictions ease next week.

During lockdown staff have kept care home residents connected with families through digital technology; window visits and where appropriate, allowed people to meet face-to-face under social distancing guidelines.

How will visiting work after lockdown?

Now in line with new government guidance, care home residents can, where circumstances allow, be visited inside the care home by a designated person from 08 March.

Visits are by appointment only and visitors will be required to follow strict infection prevention control procedures before and after they enter the care home.  Visitors will be tested upon arrival and need to return a negative test result for the visit to go ahead.

Councillor Musarrat Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said:

“I am delighted that we can start to facilitate visits to residents in our care homes as lockdown restrictions ease.

Staff have worked incredibly hard to keep our elderly and vulnerable care home residents safe and well during the pandemic. Family members have been unable to see loved ones like they used to, and we recognise the mental health impact this has had.

Resuming face-to-face visits will be a boost for the mental wellbeing of our care home residents and another step in the road to recovery from COVID.”

Visiting in Wellbeing Pods

For residents in the council’s two dementia homes in Heckmondwike (Claremont House) and Newsome (Castle Grange), pictured above. Up to two visitors can meet a relative in newly installed Wellbeing Pods which provide a COVID safe space.

How can I arrange a visit?

Anyone wishing to visit their loved one should contact the care home directly to make arrangements.  No visits will take place in the event of an outbreak.