Scottish Care Calls for Balanced Approach to Winter Restrictions in Care Homes
As winter approaches and respiratory illnesses increase across Scotland, health boards are beginning to reintroduce visiting restrictions and mask requirements in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Scottish Care has issued a statement urging caution against implementing similar blanket measures in residential care settings, emphasising the critical difference between clinical environments and residents’ homes.
The organisation has warned against repeating what it describes as mistakes made during the Covid-19 pandemic, when care home residents experienced prolonged isolation from loved ones. Scottish Care emphasises that care homes serve as permanent residences rather than medical facilities, and that residents’ rights must be prioritised when considering any protective measures.
Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, told BBC Scotland a “measured” approach could avoid routine mask wearing in the care homes, which he said were different from NHS settings.
Legal Protections for Family Contact
The statement highlights Anne’s Law, which has been enacted in Scottish legislation to guarantee care home residents’ right to maintain meaningful relationships with family members and close contacts. Scottish Care characterises this right as both a legal requirement and a moral imperative, stipulating that any restrictions imposed must meet three key criteria: they must be proportionate to the risk, limited in duration, and supported by clear public health evidence.
Communication Challenges
Drawing on lessons learnt during the pandemic, Scottish Care has raised concerns about the impact of face coverings on communication, particularly for vulnerable residents. The organisation notes that masks can create significant barriers for individuals living with dementia, hearing impairments, or cognitive difficulties, who rely heavily on facial expressions, lip-reading, and visual cues for effective interaction.
According to the statement, the ability to see familiar faces and share emotional connections through facial expressions represents a fundamental aspect of dignity and wellbeing rather than an optional comfort. Scottish Care therefore recommends that mask use in care homes should be restricted to situations where there is genuine and demonstrable infection risk.
Call for Proportionate Action
The organisation has directed its appeal to health protection teams and policymakers across Scotland, calling for decision-making that balances infection control with human rights and person-centred care principles. Scottish Care acknowledges the importance of protecting residents from illness whilst simultaneously warning against the dangers of isolation, loneliness, and the erosion of fundamental rights.
In concluding its statement, Scottish Care reaffirmed its position that residential care facilities should be recognised as “places of life and love, not lockdown,” emphasising the sector’s commitment to maintaining this balance throughout the winter period and beyond.
