Recommendation 26

We hope that future DHSC guidance on visiting in care homes will allow for a more proportionate approach to visiting which minimises any necessary interference with residents’ right to family life (Article 8 ECHR). The Government must ensure that care homes are not implementing blanket bans on visiting. Restrictions on visiting rights must only be implemented on the basis of an individualised risk assessment and such risk assessment must take into account the risks to the person’s emotional wellbeing and mental health of not having visits.