A Harrogate woman has spoken of her frustration after her application to become an essential care giver for her 99-year-old father was dismissed by his care home.

According to government guidance, essential care givers should be enabled to visit care homes in all circumstances, including if there is a covid outbreak.

But Judy Bass’ application to be an essential care giver for her father in The Granby care home, Harrogate, has not been accepted.

The home is not convinced Ms Bass, who isn’t included in her father’s care plan, meets the criteria.

This is once again severely limiting the amount of time she can spend with her dad, who will turn 100 next month.

Ms Bass said this was the “final straw” after months of infrequent visits and disagreements with the home.

Before the pandemic Ms Bass visited her father, Tom Wilkinson, every day and was therefore never included in his care plan. But since her visits have become less frequent she says his condition has deteriorated.

Judy Bass and her dad.

She says it is important for her dad to have constant communication with his family due to his dementia. Currently Ms Bass sees her father for just 30 minutes, once a week.

She said:

“I’m at a loss. I just want to see my dad. It’s very draining on us all, it’s so upsetting. He’s just lying there alone once again. I just can’t understand why they can’t see how essential my visits are.”

She said the lack of contact was affecting her health because she can’t be there for him all the time.

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The home is scheduling a meeting with Ms Bass to review her father’s care plan. Those at the meeting will decide if Ms Bass’s support would improve Mr Wilkinson’s health and wellbeing and, if so, essential care giver status could be reviewed.

A spokesperson for Four Seasons Health Care, which owns the home, said:

“We fully understand how difficult it is for all loved ones at this time and our absolute priority is to care for the health and wellbeing of every resident.

“The Granby is currently in outbreak status and is following the government’s guidance on providing window visits and video calls.

“Our hard working team members are doing everything they can to ensure residents and relatives stay connected during this time, including providing essential care giver status where this is in the best interests of the resident.”