Do I need to wear a face mask to visit a care home?

During the pandemic, face masks became the norm. Even after restrictions were lifted in most public places, care homes continued to be cautious and ask visitors to wear face masks.

In the wake of the pandemic, care homes remain vigilant in their practices to help maintain the safety and wellbeing of residents, staff and visitors. 

England

It is no longer a legal requirement to wear face coverings in care homes in England, but guidance recommends staff and visitors to wear them in certain situations. 

Visitors

Visitors to care homes in England are no longer required to wear face masks, although they may be asked to wear one in certain situations by the individual care home, for example if the resident they are visiting is suspected to have Covid. 

If you are a named ‘essential visitor’ during a Covid outbreak who provides personal care to your loved one in a care home, you will need to wear the same PPE as the staff when delivering this care.

These are Government guidelines only and it is at the discretion of the care home as to when and where in the care home they require you to wear a mask.

Staff

Care home staff are no longer required to routinely wear face masks during their shift, but there are specific situations where they are recommended to continue to do so.

These include:

• If the resident has, or is suspected to have, Covid.
• If the care setting is in an outbreak.

The individual care home will continue to decide what is most practical, taking into account the risk of infection and the needs of the residents, for example if a resident is particularly vulnerable to Covid, then face masks will be recommended.

Visiting professionals

Visiting professionals, such as medical professionals, entertainers and religious leaders, are no longer required to wear face masks at all times. Again, they should follow the advice of the individual care home as well as consdering the needs and requirements of care home residents. 

There is full guidance on visiting care homes in England here.

Scotland

Visitors

Since Wednesday 14 September 2022, the guidance to wear a face mask when visiting a care home in Scotland has been removed. This means that you are no longer required to wear a mask when visiting a loved one in a care home. However, if you would prefer to continue wearing a mask during your visits, then you should be supported by care home staff at all times. There may also be occasions when a care home requests visitors to wear a mask, such as during an outbreak in the home.

Care homes in Scotland continue to prioritise the safety of residents, staff and visitors, so it’s important to communicate with individual care homes to make sure you are aware of their guidance. 

Staff 

Under the same revised guidance, staff working in care homes are also no longer required to wear a face mask during their shifts.

If a person receiving care would prefer care givers to wear a mask, then this should be supported and care homes may adjust the guidance based on certain scenarios, such as during the case of an outbreak in the care home. 

Visiting professionals

Visiting professionals are required to follow the same guidance as social care staff when visiting a care home. This means they are not required to wear a face mask during visits, but they may choose to do so for personal preference, and they should wear a mask if the person receiving care would prefer for them to do so. 

Full guidance for wearing face masks in care homes in Scotland can be found here.

There is also separate guidance available for healthcare professionals here.

There is full guidance on visiting care homes in Scotland here.

Wales

It is not a legal requirement for visitors to care homes in Wales to wear face coverings. However, care homes are required by the Care Inspectorate Wales to take a risk-assessed approach to their infection prevention and control measures.

Visitors

As of December 2022, individual care homes are able to use their own judgement when it comes to face mask guidance. Although it is no longer a legal requirement, a care home may ask you to continue to wear a face mask in situations such as an outbreak or if a resident is particularly vulnerable. 

If you are an ‘essential visitor’, you may need to wear the same PPE as the care home staff. This depends on the role you play in your loved one’s care, for example if you deliver personal care. This is to be agreed with the care home.

Staff

It is up to care homes to risk-assess whether their staff should wear masks or not when the home is not in an outbreak of Covid. Staff may continue to wear face masks when carrying out some of their care duties, such as personal care, and they should wear a face mask for the duration of an outbreak of Covid within the home.

Visiting professionals

Care homes will risk-assess when and where visiting professionals should wear face masks.

There is full guidance on visiting care homes in Wales here.

Northern Ireland

Visitors

It is not a legal requirement for visitors to wear face masks throughout their visit to care homes in Northern Ireland.

In certain circumstances such as if there is a Covid outbreak in a care home, the guidelines for wearing a face mask might be amended.