Friday 21st May 2021

With rule relaxation and continued diligence in PPE use, people have been able to visit their loved ones more freely in care homes, including holding hands. It has been a beautiful sight to see at our three care homes: Caer Gwent, Linfield House, and Haviland House.

Haviland House is our specialist dementia care home, where residents are loving called ‘family members’. Haviland’s Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Eileen, has been organising visits there.

She said, “Since LFD testing has started in Haviland alongside being garbed up in full PPE, it has been a dream come true for my relatives to be able to come in and get close enough to hold their much loved family members’ hands.

“The difference is colossal and it has made such a difference to the ambience, the sense of mood, the feeling of love, protection and positivity for my family members – boy oh boy!

“I’ve been moved beyond belief just witnessing the recent reunions and we’ve gone through more boxes of tissues than a beauty parlour!”

One such example of loved ones being reunited can be seen in the picture below, which was taken a few weeks ago when Christine Bowman visited her mum, Diana, at Haviland.

Christine said, “Being able to visit Mum again has made a huge difference to her. She seems much more engaged, relaxed, and contented. I share family stories and photos/videos from my phone with her to help keep her connected. She especially likes to hear about her three great grandsons. Her smile says it all - it’s priceless!

A couple of weeks ago Eileen helped us to FaceTime Kathryn, Diana’s other daughter, during our visit so we could have a three-way conversation. It was just like old times for mum and she never stopped smiling.

Thank you, Eileen for facilitating the visits and the Angmering team for looking after her so well like a member of their own families and even gave her a pamper session before our visit."