We have introduced several changes within the building for the foreseeable future to help protect residents from the spread of the virus.

These changes are in line with the latest Government advice that older and vulnerable people should limit the amount of contact they have with others.

The changes are designed to:

• Reduce the number of non-residents and non-essential staff accessing the buildings.
• Reduce the risk of infection among the residents.
• Enable us to concentrate our cleaning activities on surfaces and areas that are still in use.
  

The changes we have implemented at Primrose Gardens are as follows: 

• All communal areas closed off
  

• The use of the dance hall and conference facilities have been suspended.
• The use of all common rooms (this includes ground floor lounge and quiet lounge) and group activities are suspended. We have also asked that people do not congregate in the main reception area.
• Removal of all seating areas around the building, we have provided one chair on each corridor for residents use if they need to stop for a quick rest.
• The public toilets located on Snowdrop, Bluebell and Poppy fields are closed and only one public toilet in the reception area has remained open.
• The pamper bathroom is closed.
• Extra temporary hand washing facilities have been installed on the ground floor and all visitors are required to wash their hands and sanitise on entering and leaving the building.
• Staff will be signing all visitors in and out of the building
• Visitors must go straight the intended apartment.
• All staff and contractors must declare themselves free of relevant symptoms at the beginning of each shift.
• Resident have been offered support with regards to food shopping.
• Residents can, of course, continue to receive visitors in their apartments and we have asked that they share all up to date information they receive from us with them. We are working with residents to encourage them to limit the frequency and duration of visits, limit the number of people attending any particular visit and limit the pool of visitors to Primrose Gardens.

We understand that these are worrying times and that the closure of communal facilities has been a difficult decision.  As a result, the staff team will be checking in on residents on a regular basis this will include, asking how they are if passing through the reception area, by mobile phone or through the intercom system. A daily contact register is kept by staff, we also have a list of those who self-isolation to ensure they the right support.