Carers at The Haven Care Home have decided to move in with their elderly patients instead of living with their own families during the coronavirus lockdown.
The workers, who said farewell to their children and partners when they have chosen to be with their patients, are being hailed as heroes.
They have promised to stay at the home until the lockdown is over.
This heroic effort is being led by manager Harriet Mays, a mother of two. Her children, Riley and Archie, are being looked after by her partner David while she takes care of elderly patients.
“We have been looking at ways to reduce the footfall, and the possibility of infection at the home,” Harriet shared. “So we decided the best way to do that was to just move in.”
“We have made sure that the seven staff on shift at any time have their own rooms,” she added. “Also, the home has two kitchens, so the staff are using one of them to cook in.”
The staff also keep themselves entertained with gardening, board games, and yoga sessions.
“I keep in regular touch with my boys. We do a lot of FaceTime chats,” Harriet said. “They all seem quite happy – but I am looking forward to seeing them a lot.”
Another carer, Helen Lane, said her partner, Mike, is taking care of their 13-year-old son Callum.
“Mike is a bus mechanic and is out of work at the moment. They seem to be looking after each other okay I think. It is obviously a little bit difficult,” Helen said.
“I talk to Callum on the phone or FaceTime him to remind him that he still has to do his homework and not play on the Xbox all day. But he is a good lad and seems to be doing it.”
The residents currently at the Haven Care Home are all dementia sufferers. Their relatives have since voiced praise of the carers to their local paper.
“I live far away from my father and it is a great comfort for me to know that he is in such good hands,” one said.
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Replaced!