This website makes resources freely available and accessible for anyone undertaking or supporting safe and compassionate human interaction in care homes. The resources have been developed by infection prevention and control (IPC) experts and supported by Care Home Relatives Scotland.
These resources are for carers, family members, relatives, friends and those who work in care homes. The contents will also be useful to leaders at all levels.
How infection prevention and control measures can enable safe and compassionate care home interactions; visual scenarios bringing this to life
An information leaflet designed to further reassure and support anyone who is planning to spend time with a care home resident
Messages and graphics to support you to advocate for safe and compassionate care home interactions with IPC as an enabler
Lack of meaningful interaction between loved ones has had an untold effect on both residents and relatives/close friends of those in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been detrimental to overall well-being and mental health. Despite guidance recommending interaction between loved ones, many homes continued to forbid or severely restrict access and to facilitate only window viewings or socially distanced outdoor interaction. Many measures have been quoted as the solution however, even when vaccines and testing to manage the COVID-19 situation are in place, infection prevention and control when applied properly, will always play a major role in ensuring safe interactions at any time – this needs to happen in all care homes.
Even now, years after the initial pandemic implications, it is important to remember that the correct use of targeted measures will prevent the spread of any respiratory infections, enabling meaningful, social connections. This will prevent inappropriate isolation of residents in care homes.
In Scotland, as of 31 March 2026, ‘Anne’s Law’ is in place, which describes a series of legal acts and regulations that give new duties to care homes to strengthen the rights of people living in adult care homes to see and spend time with people who are important to them. The code of practice explains how these duties should work day-to-day.
Supported by the information on this website, we call on individuals and leaders of different groups and organisations to promote infection prevention and control as the enabler of safe and compassionate interactions between residents of care homes and relatives/friends.
