Lifting of ban on visits to nursing homes now urged

Geriatric specialists say vaccination has reduced the risk hugely, and that leaving the elderly to die alone in homes is ‘inhumane’

Making contact: a nursing home resident and her granddaughter try to keep in touch on a family visit Picture: Getty

It was this time last year that some nursing homes decided to close their doors to visitors, as the threat of the coronavirus pandemic edged closer with each passing day. Since then, their 30,000 residents have been largely deprived of meaningful visits from family and friends.

But, with vaccination of this cohort and most nursing home staff now largely completed, stakeholders are calling for the harsh restrictions on visiting to be reviewed, particularly given that ...