Reopening of visits to nursing homes: “For me, it is not fundamental, but I understand that some need it”

As France prepares to begin deconfinement on May 11, residents of nursing homes may not have to wait until then to see their loved ones again. Indeed, on April 19, the Minister of Health announced a “visiting right for families” the next day. “This will be at the request of the resident, under extremely limited conditions (…) and under the responsibility of the establishment directors, who will have to tell the family when it will be possible and under what conditions”said Olivier Véran.

A resumption of visits with very strict measures

A measure that welcomes Bernard, a chartered accountant confined to Mandelieu-la-Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes), as long as the barrier gestures are well respected. The nursing home in which his 88-year-old mother is located is beginning to slowly resume visits, governed by very strict measures. First, the slot per resident must not exceed one hour every two weeks, and only a maximum of two people can come. Then, each visit “must be the subject of a medical prescription” established by a doctor from the Ehpad.

For their part, relatives will have to agree to have their temperature taken, disinfect their hands, and be given a mask. Other obligations: respect the rules of social distancing and sign “two certificates indicating, for the first, that they are well aware that there is at least one Covid-19 case in the establishment, and, for the second, that they have not been carriers or in contact for less than 14 days of Covid-19 symptoms.” Finally, the establishment undertakes to disinfect all the furniture after each visit.

“I know that it is not contaminable by us”

“For me, this form of deconfinement in nursing homes is not necessarily fundamental, but I understand that some need it. I am thinking in particular of the case where a couple is separated, the husband outside, and the wife inside.illustrates Bernard. It is also important for all people who are not very familiar with computers, like my brother, for example.”

If the 59-year-old son brings up this subject, it is because the nursing home in which his mother is located has set up a system based on technology to maintain contact between residents and their loved ones during confinement. “That’s enough for me because, like that, I know that she cannot be contaminated by us, her children, nor by her grandchildren.says the accountant.

“It makes my mother feel good”

Indeed, from the week of March 16, management has set up a Doodle document, in which each loved one can register. He is then called by a member of the nursing staff during the time slot indicated and is thus put in contact with the resident by means of a video call.

“It allows me to see my mother directly, as if I were in front of hersays Bernard. It is already a great satisfaction to know that there is information available visually. This allows me to make sure of his physical condition. I know she’s moving, that she’s fine. Then, it does my mother good; she was very happy to see my eldest daughter with her pregnant belly.”

The essential communication between nursing homes and relatives

At the same time, the management sends each family an email at least once a week which summarizes the essential elements of the last few days: if the doctor has been, if a member of staff is sick… “It is well detailedsays the accountant. In addition, my mother’s nurse keeps me well informed because she had had a fever and was no longer eating, as if she had had a bit of a virus. When it passed, she called me back to tell me that everything was fine.”

An essential communication in the current context: on the 21,856 people died As a result of Covid-19 in France since the start of the health crisis, 8,309 have died in social and medico-social establishments. “There is a greater risk of transmission and death in nursing homes, as we have seen so far, unfortunately. Of course, I fear contamination. I’m scared that my mother might catch the virusconfides Bernard. Especially since the nursing staff explained to me that some residents do not understand the principle of social distancing or simply forget it. All of this is hard to bear.”