Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:
“I strongly welcome the statement from the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services that she intends to announce that indoor visits to care homes in Wales will be able to begin again from March 13.
“Many older people living in care homes have been separated from their loved ones for a long time and have experienced a significant deterioration in their mental and physical health as a result.
“There has been a great deal of work by care homes, the Welsh Government and a range of other organisations to make this announcement possible, and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in getting us to a place where visits will be able to begin again soon. This partnership working will need to continue to ensure that visits can be managed safely, and to allow other visitors to also begin visiting as soon as this is practical.
“I will also continue to ensure that the voices of older people and their loved ones are heard and acted upon.
“I know that many older people living in care homes and their families and friends will be relieved at this news and will now be looking forward to being reunited after being apart for so long.”
