The councils of Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Álava have decided make the measures adopted in nursing homes more flexible to adapt them to the current situation.

Thus, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia will allow the elderly to leave the residence in which they are staying to give “therapeutic” walks In open spaces around the center, accompanied by relatives or friends.

As local sources have reported this Wednesday, visits will continue to be limited to one person per resident, at least twice a week, with a maximum duration of one hour, taking precautionary measures and combining them with telematic means.

The outings or visitsDepending on the case, they will preferably be with the same person from abroad, although there may be exceptions depending on the circumstances.

These measures, as they have pointed out, are not limited to end-of-life situations, where families should be provided the possibility of a farewell with the resident person.

Gipuzkoa

The Deputy for Social Policies of Gipuzkoa, Maite Peña, has ensured that users will continue to receive visits and outings in “all centers without positive cases” of the territory with the limitation of one person for each visit, lasting one hour and up to two a week, combining face-to-face with telematics.

It has abounded in that the exits of the residents of the centers has been the “route of contact” of the virus in the centers during the second wave of the pandemic and has stressed that it seeks “a balance between shielding the centers of contagion and guaranteeing that the quality of life and the well-being of the elderly does not suffer “.

“Therefore, Departures can continue to be made in residences where the epidemiological situation allows it, avoiding closed and crowded spaces, prioritizing the walk, twice a week and around the center, lasting one hour and accompanied by a maximum of two people per resident “.

Álava

The Álava Provincial Council has approved this Wednesday a regional order that makes the regime of visits and exits of the residences for the elderly in the territory more flexible in aspects such as the frequency and number of people who can accompany residents.

In the case of visits to residents, although they will continue to be limited, preferably to one person, it is established as a novelty that each user may receive a minimum of two weekly visits. In the August order, no minimums or maximums were established for visits to residents, a matter that was left to each center according to their capacities.

On the contrary, the duration of visits has been reduced from two hours to one.

In the regional regulation approved this Wednesday, the possibility of walk around the center – a walk around the block, for example – is extended to all residences, regardless of whether or not they have gardens or patios.

Residents may make two weekly outings, although they should avoid closed spaces. As with visits, the maximum time for each outing has been reduced from two hours to one. However, the new rule increases the number of family members who can accompany the eldest on these walks to two, from one to two people.