Care home residents say thanks
RESIDENTS AT a Brighouse care home have been putting their artistic skills to good use to say a huge “thank you” to members of their local community who have offered support, help and raised plenty of smiles throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.
A large, colourful “thank you” sign is now on display in the window of the Bridge House care home on Bracken Road.
Patricia Lavery, acting manager at Bridge House, saw just how much the local community has rallied around, with pizza brought to the home by Dominos, delicious food from Shibden Hall and then practical support from Calderdale Council to ensure that the home had a consistent supply of PPE to keep residents and staff safe.
“When you add in all of the delicious treats that the families of the residents sent along to keep the team spirit high, it is little wonder that many of us are coming out of lockdown with a few extra pounds!” Patricia said.
While the home has not been able to welcome visitors, technology has been used to enable e-visiting.
“Our event co-ordinators, Dawn and Simone, have kept residents busy with a host of activities,” added Patricia.
“We even managed a sociallydistant visit from a singer who performed on the driveway to mark VE Day – a lovely treat for the residents.”
The support received by Bridge House is typical of the many acts of community spirit experienced at homes across the region – a story that has often gone unreported, according to Paul Musgrave, managing director of Harrogate-based Fisher Care Group, which operates the home.
“So many of the news headlines over the last three months have been about the difficult time faced by care homes during the crisis,.
“But we’ve seen across all of our homes how this has motivated the local community to embrace them – from a safe distance – with kindness and support beyond anything we could have anticipated.
“Care homes have been right in the front line of dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, and our staff have done a remarkable job of shielding our residents and keeping them safe at this unprecedented time.
“It has been a difficult time for everyone working in care homes across the country including our staff, residents and for the friends and relatives of the people we care for.
“These small acts of kindness have really helped keep the spirits of staff and residents high, even when they have been separated from friends and family outside the home for long periods of time.”
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