COVID-19 Guidance on Visitations to Residential Care Facilities

Issued 17 September 2020

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COVID-19 Guidance on Visitations to Residential Care Facilities is currently being reviewed. NPHET has recommended that for the next three weeks from 13th September, in order to reduce resident contacts, Long-term Residential Care facilities (LTRCs) in Dublin should reduce the number of visitors to one nominated visitor per resident.

St. Michael's House Residential Services are effected in the following :

Visitors to Residential Services in Dublin :

Visitors are now restricted to one nominated visitor per resident.

  • Staff are working with families. Only ONE Family Household can visit St. Michael's House Residential Unit at a time. *Planned visits will need to be altered and scheduled at a local level . There are no group visits.

Service Users Home Visits in Dublin

  • Visits to households can be accommodated. Service users can visit a Household of up to 6 people from 1 other household with social distancing.
  • PLEASE NOTE Based on the current guidance of no more than 2 households, the family home is considered one household and the residential is considered a second household. Therefore, it is not recommended that family members from a third household are present for the visit.
  • Outdoor meetings- Socialising can continue at indoor or outdoor public venues, but only with people from your own household or one other household. There is a maximum group of 6 people .

Service User Overnight Stays In Dublin

  • Service User Overnight Visits to Family Homes- the current guidance from SMH on overnight visits will remain in place. The rights and the risk of the overnight visit will be assessed on an individualised and “house by house” basis.

We understand this is disappointing news and we will work with families on a local level to support service users as much as possible.

While these restrictions are for the protection of people, most at risk, we recognise the unprecedented impact on people's daily lives.

These measures are in place for three weeks from Sunday 13th September. The situation will be kept under review with NPHET and HSE.  We aim to write out information to all Families via letter. However, timely information will be posted on our website- smh.ie as circumstances may change .