Relatives & Residents Association

Coronavirus Hub

This hub brings together useful information about our work on coronavirus, including our campaign to End Isolation In Care. It does not contain medical advice. If you are worried that you or someone you support may be at risk, contact the NHS via the 111 online service. If the symptoms become severe, telephone the NHS support line on 111.

For media enquiries, please call 07385 290 059.

About R&RA and our Helpline

R&RA staff are working from home. The R&RA Helpline remains open as usual (by phone 9.30am-1pm and on Thursdays 6pm-8pm, and by email 9am-5pm). If you cannot get through on the phone, please leave us a message and we will get back to you.

Thank you for your patience if we take a little longer than usual to get back to you. Our helpline is incredibly busy at this challenging time – we are here for you and will get back to you as soon as we can.

Our work on COVID-19

R&RA are working to ensure the voices of people needing care are heard during this pandemic:

• Our campaign to End Isolation In Care calls for older people to be reconnected with their family/friends
• See our guide for providers on Visiting and the Law and our Visiting summary for families of the law, regulations and guidance on visiting
• Information about Essential Caregivers, including a webinar and FAQs
• Our letter to CQC expressing continued disappointment in their role during the pandemic
• Your Covid Stories shares stories from our helpline callers about the impact of the pandemic
• Moving out of care during COVID: our explainer of the legal, practical and financial considerations
• Our evidence to Parliament raising concerns about human rights and the Government’s response to the virus
• Read how isolation in care is jeopardising residents’ human rights
• Our call for a strategy on unlocking care homes to help prevent a mental health crisis
• Tips on helping families keep in touch during coronavirus
• Joint statement on open communications between care homes, residents and families
• Keep up to date with our latest news on coronavirus
• Good practice examples of care services supporting families to stay connected

Support R&RA

R&RA’s services have never been more in demand. Calls to the R&RA Helpline have increased and we expect demand to continue to rise. At the same time, our income has dropped by 70%. We are determined to keep the R&RA Helpline open and operating remotely, to be there for older people and their families across the country. Please consider donating to us at this challenging time, by clicking here.