'Extremely anxious' care home resident forced to self-isolate after hospital stay due to 'inhumane' rule

A rule that is forcing a care home resident to self-isolate in a room for two weeks after a short stay in hospital, to keep other residents safe from Covid, has been criticised as ‘inhumane’ and a ‘violation of human rights’.

Chloe Bradwell, who specialises in working with people living with dementia in care homes, is calling for the government policy to be changed, after she found her grandparent is being shut in a bedroom at the care home with minimal contact for 14 days after leaving hospital.

“To lock my grandparent in a room for a fortnight with no contact - apart from carers, who I assume leave and return to the home every day - seems like a violation of human rights and inhumane.

“My grandparent exhibits symptoms of cognitive impairment and is already, in normal circumstances, extremely anxious. Family support has been a lifeline in the last few months,” said Ms Bradwell.

She is very concerned about her relative’s mental and physical health which has been deteriorating for some time and worries that no contact from family for two weeks could have “fatal consequences”.

The policy is in place due to the belief it protects other residents against Covid but her grandparent is fully vaccinated and could simply be tested for the virus, according to Ms Bradwell.

She adds: “This policy does not make sense and only applies for hospital, not community stay. How can people be allowed to go in nightclubs and now travel without having to quarantine on their return (then potentially go visit a family member in care home!) but this policy still remains in place.

“What is the difference between a carer coming to a home after having mixed in the community and a fully vaccinated and tested family member providing vital support to their (fully vaccinated and tested) loved one?

“This abusive policy needs to be changed. There are thousands of older adults and their families suffering from this every day.”

The government updated its guidance for care homes in England just before restrictions eased on 19 July. This states: ‘There are certain types of activity where the risks are inherently higher and the advice is that in these cases the resident should self-isolate on their return (to the care home).'

These activities are overnight stays in hospital and visits assessed to be high-risk following an individual risk assessment.

‘This is to ensure that, in the event they have unknowingly become infected while out of the home, they minimise the chances of passing that infection on to other residents and staff.’

'If a person is admitted from a hospital or another care home they must also self-isolate.'

The Relatives & Residents Association responded angrily at the time to publication of the guidance, saying: “Astonishing: three days before all restrictions lifted across England, government guidance tells people living in care to still quarantine after a hospital stay. This blanket policy has long been unfair, unlawful, harmful. Now, the disparity is appalling.”

The government added this guidance will remain under review, and it is ‘our ambition that guidance on self-isolation following overnight stays in hospital will be amended as soon as the data and evidence show it is safe.’