Residents At Essex Care Home Reunited With Their Families After Lockdown

Residents at Mundy House care home in Basildon are overjoyed at being able to see their family members face-to-face once again, following the easing of coronavirus guidelines and restrictions from the UK Government.

Since March, visiting restrictions at the Essex-based home have meant that residents have been using a variety of virtual platforms, such as Facetime and Facebook, to keep in touch with their family members. This was a decision taken to ensure the safety of people at the care home throughout the pandemic.

However, from June, residents have been allowed to meet up with their loved ones in person outside the home, for the first time in several months.

While adhering to social distancing requirements, residents can sit in the home’s garden with a designated member of their family. The visits to the home are subject to a series of strict infection control criteria, including temperature checks on arrival and wearing the correct PPE, which can be provided. A booking system is also in place.

One of the residents at Mundy House who has enjoyed meeting up with a family member is Joan England. Joan spent an afternoon sitting in the home’s garden with her daughter, Jane.

Joan said: “Lockdown was a really tough period, but everyone at the home pulled together to help look after one another. Staff at the home have been working really hard to organise fun lockdown activities and help us speak to our families via video calls.”

“It felt really nice to see my daughter, Jane, once again; I have really missed her over the last few months. Although we remained in constant contact virtually, it was great to see her in person, even if it was from a social distance!”

Josi George, home manager at Mundy House care home, said: “We are thrilled to be able to welcome back some familiar faces to Mundy House care home. Our staff and residents have really missed having them around the home.

“Although we have all thoroughly enjoyed helping our residents keep in touch with their families virtually, we are delighted that we are able to host family members in our spacious garden at a safe distance.”