Update on Akari Care’s response to COVID 19

Update on Akari Care’s response to COVID 19 (Coronavirus) infection

We appreciate that this is a worrying time and the current and continuing safety of our residents, staff and visitors is our main priority. Since our update sent to the family members of our residents on 5 March 2020, we have continued to carefully monitor advice provided by the Government and Public Health England in response to COVID 19.

Protecting our residents and staff

We continue to operate a number of safety measures to protect our residents and staff from COVID 19.

All visitors to our homes must carefully follow instructions set out on notices within our care homes and provided by our staff. These notices are being updated as guidance changes and it is important that all visitors to our homes carefully review these notices prior to entering our care homes.

Under no circumstances should you visit one of our homes if you currently feel unwell, have displayed any of the following symptoms or have had contact with anyone displaying these symptoms:

• Cough; or
• Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath; or
• Fever or high temperature.

We do not want to isolate residents from their friends and families but clearly the prevention and reduction of risks of infection for both residents and staff must take priority.

It is of critical importance that all visitors to our care homes wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately on entering our care homes. If for any reason soap and water are not available then hand sanitiser gel may be used instead. All visitors must continue to practice good hand hygiene during the course of visits to our care homes including regularly washing their hands during their visits and prior to leaving the care home.

Controlling the spread of the Coronavirus is largely down to maintaining good hygiene practices. We would also ask all visitors to not wander around the home. Ideally visitors should simply walk from front door to hand washing facilities and then to the room of the resident that they are visiting.

Families and friends

Families and friends are still welcome to continue to visit our care homes but we request that you carefully follow instructions set out on notices within our care homes and provided by our staff.

Health and social care professionals

Visiting health and social care professionals will also continue to be welcome to visit our care homes but again must carefully follow instructions set out on notices within our care homes and provided by our staff.

Non-essential visits

Out of an abundance of caution, we are also now cancelling all non-essential visits to our homes from the following visitors:

• External entertainers;
• The local community around our homes; and
• Other service providers including hairdressers.

This decision has only been taken after careful consideration and has been made with the best interests and wellbeing of our residents and staff in mind. We would like to thank all of our residents’ families and friends, the local community around our care homes, our entertainers, and other service providers for their understanding at this time.

We will continue to review our procedures on a day to day basis, based on advice and guidance received. We will update our website with any significant changes to these procedures.

If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Home Manager in the first instance and we will keep you updated with any further developments.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Karen Harkin

Chief Operating Officer