Meallmore care provider stops all non-essential visits to homes in Inverness and Nairn over coronavirus concerns
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Meallmore is restricting visiting at its care homes in Inverness and Nairn in response to concerns about coronavirus.
Meallmore Care Homes has announced it is restricting access to its care homes.
The independent care provider operates Manor Care Home, Culduthel Care Home, Kinmylies Lodge and Meallmore Lodge in Inverness and St Olaf's nursing home and Redwoods Care Home in Nairn.
A spokesperson for Meallmore said: "As a preventative measure to protect the health of all our residents and staff we are advising people not to visit our care homes unless it is essential, until further notice.
"We have contacted all relatives and friends of our residents to advise them of our guidance and to inform them of how they can continue to keep in touch with loved ones during this difficult time.
"In addition to family and friends, other non-essential visits suspended include hairdressers, entertainers, volunteers, and external trainers. We will ensure that essential services such as medical visits still take place as required."
She said there were no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in the homes.
She continued: "As we all appreciate, the spread of COVID-19 continues to escalate, therefore we must take all the measures available to us to protect the frail elderly people that we care for and minimise any potential risk. This is in line with wider care sector guidance.
"This decision has not been taken lightly as we understand how important and valuable regular visits from family and friends are for everyone. We will be helping to facilitate video and phone calls with residents where possible as well as maintaining regular contact through our local management and staff teams.
"In the case of an emergency, or other urgent situation, we will seek to facilitate visits, which will be considered on an individual basis. We ask that family and friends discuss this with the care home manager as early as possible. Only visitors who have been screened to ensure they are not displaying symptoms will be allowed to enter our homes."
A relative of a Meallmore Lodge resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It will be heartbreaking not to see my mother, but I can understand completely why the home has had to close."
