New nursing home guidelines will allow residents to receive two visits per week on general compassionate grounds from March 22nd.
This will be possible following two weeks after full vaccination of approximately eight out of 10 of all residents and healthcare workers in the nursing home.
The requirement to limit visits to less than one hour will also be scrapped.
The increased visits will be permitted in Levels 3, 4 and 5 of the Government's Living with Covid-19 plan.
The current guidance only allows for visiting on critical and compassionate grounds.
Following the approval of the new guidance, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “We all know the direct impact that Covid-19 has had on older people, especially those in nursing homes, and the sad loss of life experienced at home and internationally from the virus. The virus has also had indirect consequences, such as the loss of those important social connections and engagements with loved ones.
“While the previous guidance had provided for visiting on critical and compassionate grounds this new guidance now expands the scope of visiting on general compassionate grounds. Meaningful contact with family and friends is important at all times which is why these additional grounds will be facilitated. Compassionate grounds could be for example to see a family member or friend as prolonged absence is causing upset or for personal reasons, to make financial or other arrangements or to advocate on their behalf.
“This new guidance is a welcome development and underpins the type of benefits that arise from the implementation of the vaccine programme. I hope that these modifications in the application of the public health protective measures reinforce the real hope that the vaccines are bringing us and continue the journey towards a more normal lived experience.”
Additional visiting
Welcoming the news, Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler said: “Twelve months on from the life changing arrival of Covid-19 we have seen the huge impact this virus has had on society, especially for our older people. It has been an incredibly difficult time for people living in nursing homes and their families as restrictions on visiting have continued. For many there has been limited opportunity since Christmas to see their loved ones.
“The ongoing reduction in Covid-19 cases across the community and the significant progress made in vaccinating the majority of nursing home staff and residents will now result in a loosening of current visiting restrictions. Moving forward under levels, 3, 4 and 5, residents will be able to receive two visits every week, under compassionate grounds where there is high vaccine coverage in a nursing home. The next few days will allow time for nursing home service providers to communicate with families, book visits and prepare for additional visiting.
“However, the risk associated with Covid-19 remains very real. This is why the guidance takes a cautious approach and aligns with the principles set out in the Government’s revised Living with Covd-19 Plan. We all need to remain vigilant, and continue to follow public health advice, including when visiting, to reduce the spread of Covid and protect those living in our communities.
“The new visiting guidance will, I hope, be widely welcomed, as it signifies a big step forward in providing opportunities for people living in nursing homes and their families to meet much more frequently. I expect that all nursing home providers will facilitate visiting, in line with the new guidance announced today.”
