NHI reminds visitors to adhere to infection prevention and control guidelines when visiting nursing homes
Wednesday December 21, 202221st December 2022: Nursing Homes Ireland is urging continued vigilance within nursing home settings as concerns present regarding the increased prevalence of Covid19 within communities. NHI has been engaged with the HPSC in monitoring the prevalence of outbreaks within nursing homes and reminding nursing homes to implement measures to help protect residents and staff from the virus and other respiratory illnesses, including flu, which are common during the Winter period. With visitor footfall set to increase within nursing homes considerably over Christmas, against the backdrop of increasing numbers of outbreaks, CEO Tadhg Daly took opportunity to remind visitors of key principles to adhere to. He said: “It is initially important to urge anyone presenting with Covid19 or flu-like symptoms to refrain from visiting the nursing home. We appreciate this can be difficult but it is vitally important people take precautionary measures to deter spread of viruses within nursing homes.
“People visiting nursing homes are asked to continue to adhere to the public health measures that are in place to protect the residents and staff from the virus. The public health guidance emphasises hand hygiene is the single most important action to reduce the spread of infection, effective not just against Coronavirus but also flu and other respiratory illnesses. Visitors are urged to be cognisant of the importance of such. Nursing homes will have in place infection prevention control measures that visitors are asked to adhere to. Use of masks is recommended within communal spaces amongst visitors and, so far as possible, physical distancing should be adhered to when utilising such.
“We again encourage all visitors to nursing homes to avail of vaccination against the virus. For the minority that intend visiting over Christmas who have not been vaccinated, opportunity still presents.”
He concluded: “We remind all those visiting nursing homes to adhere to public health guidelines in effect to protect residents and staff. If you have symptoms, please do not visit.”
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO, is available for further interview. Interviews will be facilitated by Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications and Research Executive, who can be contacted at 087 9082970.