Visits to care homes

Seeing friends and family if you live in a care home

A book of rules with a red cross and a green tick on the cover

Each care home has different rules about having visitors.

A woman thinking with a thought bubble above her head with a green tick and a red cross in it

Mencap have some easy read information about how care home managers decide what is safe for the care home where they work.

A man in a smart coat talking to a woman in a red jumper

The information also tells you who you can talk to about what the managers decide.

A woman is unsure and needs guidance

If you live in a care home, you should ask a member of staff what the rules are about having visitors to your home.

A man asking a female member of staff a question. Both are sitting down facing each other. The man is listening to the staff members answer.

If you want to visit someone who lives in a care home, you should check with a member of staff about what the rules are for people who want to visit.

A man and a woman visiting a house. The man is knocking and the woman is holding a rule book

If someone is going to visit you, they should follow the care home's rules for arranging a visit.

The Houses of Parliament

This is a guide to what the government have said about visitors to care homes.

A man shaking hands with a woman in a crowd of people

The government have said that there is no longer a limit on the number of visitors someone can have if they live in a care home.

A woman feeling ill rubbing her tummy and holding her head

If someone feels poorly, they should not visit you.

A woman with her and on her head, a woman coughing into her hand and a man holding this throat with red cheeks

If someone has symptoms of coronavirus, flu, or another virus, they should not visit you while they have symptoms.

A woman with her and on her head, a woman coughing into her hand and a man holding this throat with red cheeks

If someone has symptoms of coronavirus, flue, or another virus, the might:

  • have a high temperature
  • have a cough
  • loose or have a change in their sense of taste or small
  • feel tired
  • feel sick
  • have a runny or blocked nose
  • have a sore throat
  • find it difficult to breathe
The days of the week in a diary, five of which have been crossed out

If someone has symptoms of coronavirus, flue, or another virus, they should not visit you for at least 5 days after they feel better.

A man wearing a face covering over his nose and mouth

All visitors to care homes should wear a face covering if they can.

A woman wearing a face mask, blue gloves and a long plastic apron

Sometimes, visitors to care homes should wear special face masks or extra things like an apron or gloves.

An accessible shower cubical with grab rails and a seat

For example:

  • If they are going to help you with personal care.
A woman with her hands over a bathroom basin which is next to a bin and a towel dispenser

Personal care includes things like having a wash or going to the toilet.

A woman with her and on her head, a woman coughing into her hand and a man holding this throat with red cheeks
  • If you are unwell or have coronavirus
A man with his mouth open sitting on a chair about to have a swab test by someone wearing blue plastic gloves

If someone is going to visit you, they only need to have a lateral flow test if they are going to help you with personal care.

A mobile phone showing a blue cross on it which shows someone is being told they have a negative test result

They will need to show the care home the negative result from a lateral flow test.

A picture of people in a care home

They can get free lateral flow tests from the care home.

A man with coronavirus on a chair with a crowd of visitors coming to see him but being stopped by a member of staff at the care home

If there is an outbreak of coronavirus at the care home, you  might not be able to have as many visitors.

A picture of people sitting in a care home lounge with coronavirus germs all around them

An outbreak means that 2 or more people at the care home have had a positive result from a coronavirus test in 14 days.

A member of the care home staff helping a resident on their walking frame

This includes people who live or work at the care home.

One visitor being allowed to visit a resident in a care home with coronavirus by a member of staff

If there is an outbreak of coronavirus at the care home, 1 person can still visit you.

Friends and family being allowed to visit a resident in a care home with coronavirus by a member of staff

If you live in a care home and have coronavirus, friends and family can still visit you.

One visitor being allowed to visit a resident in a care home with coronavirus by a member of staff

You can only have 1 visitor at a time.

A picture of people sitting in a care home lounge with coronavirus germs all around them

For more information about what you should do if you live in a care home and have coronavirus, see our easy read page.

The houses of parliament next to a pile of rule books with a care home on the front cover

You can read the government guidance about visiting care homes on the government website.