LIFE is now a bit easier for people in care homes and their families.

On March 8, the rules on care home visits changed as part of the Government’s roadmap out of the third lockdown. Care home residents can now nominate one person for regular visits.

Every time the nominated person visits, they should take a lateral flow test organised by the care home.

Visitors will need to wait for the result before seeing the resident, which takes up to 30 minutes.

If they test positive for Covid-19, they should return home and self-isolate.

Under the Government guidance, visitors and residents are advised to keep physical contact to a minimum, but hand holding is allowed.

Care homes were especially badly effected in the early weeks and months of the coronavirus pandemic.

There were many deaths partly because the people in care homes were especially vulnerable because of their age and pre-existing health conditions, also because vulnerable people were in close proximity to each other.