Covid-secure Visiting Room at Westacre

UPDATE 13.10.2021: We have now bid farewell to our wonderful visiting room. We hope that you all enjoyed comfortable visits here during the early stages of the pandemic. Visits will now all take place in house, subject to a lateral flow test as before. All bookings can be made by calling reception on 01962 855188.

From Visiting Pod to Visiting Room

Following confirmation of the new government guidelines regarding family visiting in care homes, we opened our lovely new visiting room on Monday 30th November. With the ongoing situation, we’re delighted that we are able to provide a safe, comfortable space for families to visit their loved ones.

As the covid-19 situation has continued, we have seen the new visiting pods pop up in care homes around the country. At Westacre, we want to ensure that family visits feel as normal and comfortable and as possible by converting one of our rooms into a secure visiting room. Put together by our in-house builders, the room has the following features:

Visiting Room Features

• In line with government guidelines, the room features a divider that provides full room coverage to ensure the most protection possible, while still allowing families to see and hear their loved ones.
• Hearing Loop has been installed to assist those with hearing difficulties. When visiting, switch your hearing device to ‘T’ to make use of this feature.
• Hand washing and sanitising facilities. These facilities are foot-operated to prevent any unnecessary contact.
• The room is accessible both internally and externally, with separate entrances to ensure relatives do not have to enter the house.

Visiting Procedure

We are able to provide visits by appointment for a maximum of 45 minutes. The time slots are 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, 7 days a week. Following current government guidance for Winchester and the surrounding area, visits will allow for a maximum of two people from the same household. This will be reviewed as needed.

On arrival, please come to reception to complete a temperature check and visitor form. After, you will need to follow the signs round to the garden, which will lead you to the entrance of the visiting room. Here you will need to wash your hands using the facilities provided. After the 45 minutes is completed, please wipe down any surfaces with the provided wipes and make your way back through the garden.

Westacre Care Home Visiting Guidance

We would like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of your loved ones is always at the heart of our decision making, and as such, the following criteria will apply to all visits.

• By appointment only.
• Visitors must complete a temperature check and confirm they are not COVID-19 positives and free from any symptoms.
• Visitors must use the wipes provided to sanitize the chairs and surfaces.
• Please use tissues to catch coughs and sneezes (please bring your own supply of tissues).
• Visitors must use the handwashing facilities found in the visiting room.
• There will be no refreshments provided.
• Visitors cannot come into the care home to use any facilities (including toilets).
• Gifts will need to be given to staff for ‘safe’ cleaning or storage.
• Please be advised that if you loved one is observing 14-day isolation, then sadly we will not be able to accommodate a visit.

Please visit the government website for current guidance when visiting care homes.

If you’re new to Westacre and want to find out more about the action we have taken regarding COVID-19 please contact us via this link or by phoning 01962 855 188.