NEWS EMOTIONAL SCENES AS INDOOR


CARE HOME VISITS RESUME Royal Star & Garter care homes witnessed a milestone moment in March, as residents were able to hold hands with loved ones for the first time in nearly a year.


It marked residents’ first physical contact with relatives since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March 2020, aſter the government gave the green light for indoor visits to commence.


Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.


From 8th March, guidelines in England permitted one


designated visitor to meet each resident indoors, in specially adapted rooms. Aſter 12th


April, this was upped to two visitors.


All guests wear PPE and take a lateral flow test before entering the Homes, and the rooms are thoroughly cleaned following each hour-long visit.


The meetings began in the charity’s Solihull and High Wycombe Homes on Monday 8th


March.


Among the first visitors at the High Wycombe Home was Judi, who spent time with her husband, Army veteran Alan.


Judi said: “It’s been absolute hell not being able to touch him all this time. I was so excited before seeing him and it was amazing to hold his hands.”


In Solihull, resident Patricia was visited by her husband Gerald.


Gerald said: “I was so happy to come into the Home aſter so long apart. Being able to hold Pat’s hand means we are close together once more. Knowing she is well cared for makes me


CARE HOME MARKS NATIONAL DAY OF


REFLECTION WITH TIME CAPSULE A care home in Fareham commemorated a year since the first national lockdown by burying a time capsule.


feel relaxed at home.”


Visits have been taking place between residents and loved ones since last June, when the charity was able to offer socially-distanced outdoor visits. Visits continued through the winter months, when the charity received funding to build a number of Covid-secure rooms in its Homes. Visits in the Covid-secure rooms, which permit two visitors at a time, will run alongside the new indoor visits.


Pauline Shaw, Director of Care at Royal Star & Garter, said: “Our staff have provided amazing, loving care during the COVID-19 crisis. It’s truly been care with courage. But nothing can replace a visit from a loved one. Being able to now hold hands will mean the world to people we care for. It’s been a long wait for everyone involved and our residents have shown such resilience and strength. We are all so delighted that they can have these wonderful reunions.”


www.starandgarter.org On 23rd March, Gracewell of Fareham buried a time capsule to


mark the National Day of Reflection and remember everything they have overcome in the past year.


The care home had a small ceremony with residents and team members, with an emotional and inspirational speech from Gracewell of Fareham’s General Manager, Jacqui Hampton.


The buried time capsule contained Gracewell of Fareham’s 2020 newsletters, face masks, sanitisers, We Care badges, t-shirts with ‘thanks care workers’ on, poems and letters from Gracewell of Fareham’s residents and a ‘Book of Reflection’ – made from the contributions of everyone at the home. The time capsule was buried in the home’s beautiful, landscaped gardens under a stone plaque with the Clap for Carers engraved.


Jessica Wooldridge, Home Admissions Advisor at Gracewell of Fareham, said: “The National Day of Reflection was very emotional, and we all took some time to reflect on everything we have overcome and achieved throughout the past year. It meant a lot to everyone to commemorate friends and family we have lost and honour their memory with this special ceremony.


“COVID-19 has been very challenging for all of us but, as we look to come out the other side, we are more hopeful than ever for the future!”


www.gracewell.co.uk/en - 8 - www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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