Fulbourn Nursing Home Creates New Garden ‘Pod’ To Keep Residents Connected To Loved Ones During The Pandemic

Home Close nursing home in Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire has unveiled a special visiting ‘pod’ to help residents safely connect with their loved ones.

The purpose-built, temporary wooden cabin is located in the beautiful gardens of the home and provides a safe space for relatives to visit residents whilst COVID-19 continues to pose a risk across the country.

With all external visits halted since before lockdown began in March, Healthcare Homes Group which operates Home Close, has been researching ways to make it safe for residents to see family members.  The answer has been to create garden rooms, which are equipped with a Perspex screen to separate visitors from residents and an intercom to make communicating easy. The room is also equipped with heating when required, insulation and nurse call buttons.

Patricia Burton for Home Close said; “We’re so delighted with our lovely new visiting cabin. The garden room structure means loved ones can meet without increased worry.  With visits still needed to be kept outside of the main home, having this warm, welcoming and comforting space is making such a difference to residents and their families. Our residents love it and, set in our lovely wooded area, it has a feel of an authentic log cabin!

“Maintaining contact with friends and relatives is so important for the wellbeing of those we care for so we’re delighted to be able to offer this new facility.”