Loved ones of care home residents will now have the right to visit and care for them as new standards come into place.
It is an important milestone in the campaign to bring Anne's Law - named after late East Kilbride care home resident Anne Duke - to fruition.
The former carer passed away aged 63 at the end of last year, after being diagnosed with early on-set dementia in her 50s but her family tirelessly campaigned for 'Anne's Law' - enshrining the right of care home residents and their families in law.
The Scottish Government has announced family members will be recognised as carers, even during a coronavirus outbreak.
Ministers say legislation which will enshrine the changes in law is currently being prepared.
The Care Inspectorate will be tasked with ensuring care homes meet the standards for visiting rights.
Monica Lennon, Labour Central Scotland MSP said it is an "important milestone" towards locking Anne’s Law into legislation for good.
She said: “It is cruel that decisions taken during the pandemic separated people living in care homes from their loved ones.
"In Anne’s case, her husband Campbell was not simply a ‘visitor’ he was Anne’s soulmate and an essential part of her care team. It’s good that the rights of people in care homes are finally being respected.
“The Care Home Relatives Scotland campaign built in Anne Duke’s name is giving people hope.
“The last two years have been hell for people living in care homes, their loved ones and the social care workforce.
“If existing standards had been implemented and the views of residents and family caregivers been properly considered, so much suffering could have been prevented.”
Tory Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson said: "Our care homes have bore the brunt of the pandemic and the virus continues to be a significant threat to many residents.
“The Scottish Conservatives have repeatedly made the call for SNP Ministers to bring forward Anne’s Law to ease restrictions on visiting.
“It is a welcome step forward that this has now been taken forward, but it is tinged with sadness given the fact Anne Duke passed away last year.
“This law is a fitting legacy for her and her family’s tireless campaigning and it must now be enacted as soon as possible.”
East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson said: "I’m really pleased to see this.
"Whilst I understand it was vital that steps were taken to protect people living in care homes during the pandemic, it’s important too that lessons are learned and residents have a legal right to visits from a designated loved one in the future. I know the Duke family have fought hard for this.”
Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said: "I am pleased to commend the new social care standards.
"They make explicit what we all recognise, namely the critical role that family and friends play in the care support of a resident in a care home."
Social care minister Kevin Stewart said: "We are fulfilling our pledge to introduce the provisions of Anne's Law as quickly as possible by using our existing legal powers to help ensure care home visitors can be involved in the care and support of their loved ones.
"We will go further by including Anne's Law within the new National Care Service Bill, with that legislation due to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in the coming months."
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