LISTEN BACK: SAGE ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS THE CONCERNS OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES OVER THE INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES November 3, 2021

Listen back here to our Executive Director, Sarah Lennon, on LMFM's Michael Reade Show discussing what the increase in confirmed Covid-19 case numbers could mean for older people in our communities, particularly those who are currently living in nursing homes.

Ms Lennon said that members of Sage Advocacy's Nursing Home Residents - Family Forum have told the charity they are concerned about the continued threat posed by Covid-19 and whether rising case numbers could impact on the daily lives of people living in nursing homes.

Ms Lennon said the initial roll out of the booster vaccine programme to nursing home residents aged over 65 and to over 80 year olds in the community had provided a source of comfort.

But she said that one of the biggest concerns for nursing home residents and their families at this time is whether the increase in Covid-19 cases nationally could potentially impact again on visiting arrangements in nursing homes.

Ms Lennon said nursing home residents and their families do not want to see visitor restrictions being introduced by nursing home providers again as an automatic response to the increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases in their local communities.