Care home residents enjoy long-awaited reunions with family and friends in Denmead

Garden visits have now been allowed to commence at Denmead Grange care home, meaning family and friends could meet up with residents after long periods apart.

There has been much planning for this moment at Barchester Healthcare, which runs Denmead Grange care home.

Social distancing was still in place, and homes that are able to take part must have a large accessible garden, like the one in Denmead.

Rosemary Gudgeon, a resident at Denmead Grange, said: ‘The staff here have been so wonderful and generous with their time, keeping us busy and entertained, especially showing us how to use video calls, but nothing beats seeing my daughters in real life. This was a special moment, and I was over the moon.’

Residents and their loved ones got together in the home garden for the first time in a while, and it was full of joy and chatter.

Sharon Hare, general manager at the home, said: ‘This has been a much welcomed development in what have been very strange times. The visits are safe and organised, and it was wonderful to see how happy it made the residents.

‘We will of course endeavour to keep up the high standards of care, and continue with our ever evolving life enrichment programme, to keep residents engaged. But this was a lovely day.’

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