LISTEN BACK: NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE CONCERNED THAT SOME NURSING HOME PROVIDERS HAVE RE-INTRODUCED VISITOR RESTRICTIONS August 23, 2021

Listen back here to Sage Advocacy's Executive Director, Sarah Lennon, on the Joe Finnegan Show on Shannonside Northern Sound as she discusses why some nursing home residents and their families have contacted Sage Advocacy to express their concerns about certain nursing homes re-introducing visiting restrictions.

Ms Lennon said Sage Advocacy is aware from its advocacy work and from members of its Nursing Home Residents - Family Forum that some nursing home providers have re-introduced visiting restrictions - without confirming a Covid-19 outbreak in a facility and without providing a risk assessment to nursing home residents and their families.

Ms Lennon said the current HPSC Guidance "Normalising Visiting in Long Term Residential Care Facilities" outlines that any visiting restrictions should be justified by an up to date risk assessment and in line with public health guidelines.

Sage Advocacy has contacted the Minister for Mental Health and Older People,
Mary Butler TD, to ask her to issue a further direction to nursing home providers and
urge them to restore the right to visiting, in line with public health guidance.