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Like many elements of life at present, Mother’s Day under lockdown looks very different to previous years, but care home residents are still managing to mark the occasion. While flowers, cards and presents will be delivered on Sunday (March 14th), taking loved ones out for lunch or afternoon tea is still not an option.
At one care home in Chester, they’ve decided to create a whole initiative based around the day to open up lines of communication with residents. Staff at Crabwall Hall have installed a photo booth in the main reception area to capture images of residents to accompany responses to the question, what does Mother’s Day mean to them?
It’s an innovative way for residents to interact with their loved ones ahead of the big day, as personalised messages are created and sent out to family. The project is also being posted on the home’s social media pages, bringing together the photos and comments into a wider collection that conveys the heartfelt emotions associated with Mother’s Day.
Kirsty Jones, general manager at Crabwall Hall Care Home, said: “We had such fun last month, with our ’28 Days of Love and Happiness’ for February, we decided to do a shorter version leading up to Mother’s Day. Our ladies will also be spoilt with a Mother’s Day afternoon tea put on by our activities and hospitality teams on the day itself.”
Many of Barchester’s care homes have been fitted with perspex screens in dedicated visiting areas, so loved ones may still be able to see each other safely. Other families will be using the power of technology, as they have throughout the pandemic, to connect via video calls and bring generations together virtually.
Any family members concerned about sending cards or presents can find peace of mind in advice from Royal Mail published in The Telegraph. It says Public Health England “has advised that people receiving parcels are not at risk of contracting the coronavirus.
“From experience with other coronaviruses, we know that these types of viruses don’t survive long on objects, such as letters or parcels.”
Contactless delivery is now the norm for couriers and delivery people, who have managed to safely get parcels to residents throughout the pandemic. Care homes also have procedures in place to ensure everything is as safe as possible.
