Sep 2023
Letter to family and friends: September 2023
Get your Covid-19 and flu vaccinations early, for the sake of your own health, your loved ones and everyone who works and lives in our care homes.
Dear family member or friend,
We have had a busy and sociable summer in our homes, and we look forward to full activities programmes, entertainment, and events with our local communities during the colder months.
During winter we know that Covid-19 and flu rates increase along with other infectious illnesses, e.g. Norovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). These can be very serious for older people and multiple infections can weaken anyone’s immunity. Now that Covid-19 vaccinations are open to over 65s and flu vaccinations are widely available through national pharmacies, we are appealing to family members and friends to have their vaccinations as soon as possible.
Care home residents and employees have already been getting their vaccines this month, usually delivered in care homes by local GP practices. You can book your own appointment via your local GP or using the National Booking Service: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/.
Other actions we can all take to keep each other safe from winter viruses include:
- Washing hands on arrival at a care home, and frequently during visits.
- Catching coughs or sneezes in a tissue, disposing of the tissue in a bin and sanitising hands.
- Wearing a mask as a precaution, and when infection is present. Our homes have plentiful supplies of masks available on arrival or from a staff member.
- Staying home if you feel unwell or have spent time with someone who is ill.
We very much wish to keep our doors open so that visits can take place uninterrupted, however OSJCT care homes are subject to being closed to visitors, by the local Public Health England team, on a temporary basis when illness is confirmed in a home. If this occurs, your Home Manager will contact you if this happens.
Get your Covid-19 and flu vaccinations early, for the sake of your own health, your loved ones and everyone who works and lives in our care homes.
Everyone plays an important part in reducing winter illness spread. Thank you for your support to help us reduce the risk of winter illnesses and keep our doors open to visitors.
With best wishes,
Mike Stredder, OSJCT Operations Director