Care home in Northampton opens new social distancing room so residents can reunite with loved ones

A care home in Northampton has created a special social distancing room to allow residents to reunite with their loved ones.

Timken Grange Care Home, in Timken Way South, Duston has not been able to welcome visitors for more than three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, residents who have spent lockdown having to speak to loved ones via online technology have finally been able to reunite with family and friends.

To safely enable visiting, the care home has made the garden room into a social distancing room.

The room was officially opened this week, with tears of joy shed and special moments captured, as residents were delighted and overwhelmed to see their loved ones once again.

Mary Hewitt, a resident at the home said: “It was lovely to see my family and it made me much happier.

“After months of only seeing them via FaceTime, it was lovely to see them in person.

“The staff have been very good whilst this horrible virus has been going on. We are so lucky to have this opportunity here at Timken Grange.”

Lisa, a friend of a resident, who has visited in the new room added: “It was so emotional, and I was so happy to see my dear friend. I cannot wait to visit again.”

The room, which has an external door leading to the grounds of the home, has been divided into two with plastic sheeting in the middle so that residents can sit one side and loved ones can sit the other side.

A perspex screen will be fitted as soon as possible, but the home is currently waiting on one to arrive, due to current shortages.

Isobel Scott, home manager at Timken Grange said: “It has been heart-warming to watch residents reunite with family and friends after so many weeks.

“Whilst we have tried to fill this void with high spirited activities and FaceTime meetings, the role of friends and families is hugely important to our ethos here at Timken Grange and we have all really missed their visits.

“We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and patience during these unprecedented times.”

All residents will have a 30-minute slot from Monday to Sunday for one visit per week, to ensure every resident gets some time with their relatives.

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