Able Care and the UK coronavirus outbreak
13 March 2020

Due to the risk of Coronavirus to our residents, we are now restricting visitors to Essential and exceptional-circumstance-by-arrangement only

The health, safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Colleagues are always our top priorities. We have therefore taken comprehensive action to prepare for, and respond to, the growing coronavirus outbreak in the UK. This page details the latest advice from Able Care about the steps we are taking at our homes. This information is intended for Able Care Residents, Colleagues, and any visitors to our homes only.

For comprehensive information about the coronavirus itself, please visit either the Gov.UK or NHS websites, or if you are concerned you or someone you are in contact with has coronavirus call 111.

Visiting our care homes

For Able Care, the health and safety of our Residents and Colleagues is our top priority. As such, we have made the decision to limit non-essential visitors to our care homes until further notice.

We have not taken this decision lightly, but we know our visitors, including relatives and loved ones, would want us to do everything possible to keep the Residents in our care safe and well.

Non-essential visits include routine visits from Relatives and loved ones, visits from individuals such as hairdressers and entertainers, and from professionals and contractors carrying out non-essential services.

If you can delay your visit or achieve its purpose via another method (i.e. through a phone call or video call) please do so.

Requests for essential visits where exceptional circumstances arise will be considered. These can be arranged by contacting the Home Manager.

Phone numbers for all homes are listed on the individual home pages.

If an essential visit is granted, we ask that a number of steps are taken to limit any potential risk – these are outlined in the next section.

Please do not attempt to arrange a visit the home for any reason if you currently feel unwell, particularly if you have a cough, a fever or high-temperature, or have shortness of breath, or if you have been in contact with someone who may have coronavirus.

How to safely visit our care homes

If you are making an essential visit to our care home, it is important that you do so safely and in a way that minimises the risk of infection to our Residents and Colleagues. Therefore, before visiting and whilst on site, please consider the following:

  • Hand washing. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly before you visit the care home, and regularly whilst you are at the home. Please make sure you wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds, using either hot water and soap or 60% alcohol sanitiser gel. The NHS has a video guide to effective handwashing here.
  • Coughs and sneezes. We understand there are many reasons why someone may cough or sneeze. However, whilst visiting our care home please make sure you have a tissue on you at all times so that you can catch a cough or sneeze. Please then immediately dispose of the tissue in the bin. Remember – Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.
Protecting our Residents and Colleagues

Please be assured that we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and ensuring the Government advise and PHE guidance is reviewed through the days for updates.

All Home Managers and Colleagues have been informed of the steps we are taking and how they can help prevent the spread of infection.

This page will be updated to reflect the latest information and advice regarding any additional steps we are taking to safeguard the health of our Residents and Colleagues.