Brunelcare Open Outdoor Space To Visitors

The charity is to allow one on one garden visitors between friends, family and residents

Brunelcare’s Deerhurst Care Home, as of 1st July, has allowed visitors into the gardens of their care home to finally reunite their loved ones face to face. Deerhurst is the first care home out of Brunelcare’s five homes to trial outdoor visits. The rest of the charity’s four homes, Little Heath, Robinson House, Glastonbury and Saffron Gardens, will be opening their gardens on Monday 6th July to visitors.

Each one on one visit will be 30 minutes long, with five visits being coordinated per day on a ‘one in one out’ basis. The visitors will be chaperoned to the garden area where their loved one will be waiting to greet them (all under a gazebo incase of bad weather). Precautions such as PPE, a temperature check, a signed disclosure form and social distance rules are to be in place at all five homes.

Lesley Hobbs, Care Home Manager at Brunelcare’s Deerhurst Care Home said: “We are so excited that we are able to open our gardens to visits from family and friends. It means so much to everyone and I know our residents are very excited to finally be able to see their loved ones face to face. We’ll be rolling out the red carpet as well as taking precautions with every visit, and all visitors will have to wear PPE with all meetings maintaining social distance rules. It’s been three months since we’ve had any visitors at Brunelcare’s Deerhurst Care Home and it’s going to be a day to remember!”

Deerhurst was last open to visitors on 23rd March, 15 weeks ago! But the carers and employees at the site have been making sure all of their residents have stayed well connected with friends and family with daily video and telephone calls and lots of activities taking place at the home.

Sue, a resident family member said: ‘I wanted to thank everyone at Deerhurst for putting in all the measures so I could see my Mum today. Honestly she looks so incredibly well and that is down to all the fantastic care she is receiving. Thank you for everything, the gazebos, snacks, drinks…you all really go above and beyond. Thank you isn’t enough!”

Sandra Payne, Director of Care Homes and Nursing said: “Our Deerhurst home started garden visits today (01st July) and what an emotional, rewarding and amazing afternoon it was! We are so grateful to all of the families and friends for working with us to make this a safe and enjoyable experience for people living in the home. Many thanks to all of the people living and working in our homes for their continued passion and dedication and to our visitors who we are pleased to welcome back.”