Torwoodhall Care Home

Torwoodhall Care Home

As lockdown eased a resident of Torwoodhall asked his key worker if he could resume going to the local newsagent and bookmakers. Before lockdown this was a regular daily trip for him and helped stabilise his mental health. Staff members raised the request with the management team and following a further meeting, guidance was sought from Public Health Scotland and the Mental Health Welfare commission. All professionals were in agreement this was a difficult situation to resolve balancing the resident’s rights with Public Health’s concern over risk.

Due to concerns Torwoodhall Management sought further guidance from senior management in the Partnership and this resulted in a risk assessment request. This was completed and included a member of Forth Valley nursing staff team coming to the home teaching the resident how to self-test for Covid-19, which he has successfully been doing with support from staff who verify he has self-tested and they send his kit to the test centre. This collaboration has enabled the resident to resume his daily routine, he goes out wearing his face mask and he re-enters the Care Home following the same hygiene procedures as staff members.

This shows the pulling together of Staff, Management, Senior Management and health colleagues to enable a resident regain part of their life in these challenging times. Staff members have commented that the resident’s demeanour is more relaxed and it has also created a feel good factor amongst staff members