SAGE ADVOCACY DISCUSSES NEW VISITING GUIDELINES FOR NURSING HOMES ON CLARE FM December 2, 2020

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Sarah Lennon, Executive Director of Sage Advocacy, joins Morning Focus on Clare FM to discuss the new HPSC guidance which provides an updated definition about ‘critical and compassionate circumstances’ in relation to visiting nursing homes.

According to the HPSC the definition for compassionate and critical circumstances now provides that nursing home residents should receive up to one visit, by one person, per week under Levels 3 and 4 of the framework and up to one visit, by one person, per two weeks under Level 5.

Ms Lennon said it is really encouraging that the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, has requested that all nursing home providers "make every practical effort to facilitate visiting" in a safe way in line with the new guidance.

Ms Lennon said Sage Advocacy wants to ensure that there is a fair and equitable approach to the new visiting arrangements at nursing homes.