Residents at RMBI Care Co. Homes across the UK have been overjoyed to be reunited with their loved ones after four months without visitors.
The provider is among the first in the country to install COVID-secure visitor pods, to enable residents to meet safely with their families again.
The charity’s 18 care homes closed their doors to all but essential visitors before lockdown to protect residents. Staff have worked tirelessly to ensure residents have had regular contact with their families by phone or video call, but close up, face to face conversations have not been possible.
The newly created partitioned spaces have an airtight glass screen, to ensure the safety of residents, their families, and the Homes’ staff. Visitors enter and exit from outside of the Home to minimise the risk of infection. Residents access the pods from a different door inside the Homes.
The pods have an intercom system to allow residents and their visitors to speak with each other easily. Both sides of the pods are deep cleaned between each visit and most have been installed by the Homes’ facilities teams.
Among the residents thrilled to be able to have visitors again was Connie Jones at Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court in Porthcawl. Connie was reunited with her sister, Grace, on her 82nd birthday.
Connie said: “It was wonderful to be able to see my sister again after such a long time. It was the best birthday present I could have wished for.”
Connie’s sister, Grace Amroth, said: “It was fantastic being able to see Connie at last, just in time for her birthday. The visiting room is great, the whole experience was really positive. The Home has done a brilliant job looking after Connie through the pandemic, I can’t have asked for more.”
Mark LLoyd, Managing Director, RMBI Care Co., said: “Our teams have been working around the clock to find innovative ways to bring our residents safely back in contact with their loved ones. In normal times, our residents are able to have visitors whenever they like, so not being able to do that has been difficult for everyone.
“We hope that our new secure visiting rooms will make it a bit easier for our residents and their families during these challenging times. We’re also continuing to look at other ways to welcome visitors safely to our Homes again, including making use of the outdoor spaces at many of our Homes.”
