RESIDENTS of care homes can now have more loved ones visit them after coronavirus restrictions were eased.

As of today (Monday, August 10) residents can have up to three visitors from two households outdoors come and see them following months of lockdown misery in Scotland’s care homes.

The changes have strict conditions, however, and the extra visitors will be at the discretion of the individual care home.

A care home will be able to permit the expansion of visiting if they have been virus-free throughout the pandemic or if all affected residents have fully recovered and no residents or staff have had symptoms for 28 days.

The home must also be actively participating in weekly staff testing. There will be strict criteria and infection control measures.

A spokesperson for Age Scotland said the charity welcomed the news as it will go a long way to easing the loneliness residents have felt over the last few months.

They said: “It’s fantastic news that more people may now be able to visit loved ones living in care homes.

“For months, residents have been coping and responding to coronavirus restrictions with extremely limited contact from family and friends, many doing so in semi-isolation, which has had a significant impact on their mental and physical health as well as increasing their levels of loneliness.

“The benefits to residents’ wellbeing after being able to see and interact with one visitor has been clear for all to see so for them this expansion can’t come soon enough. Now they may be able to see more of their children and grandchildren which will be a tremendous boost to them all.”