Nursing home ‘bandstand’ built to bring families back together
A NURSING home in Barry is building a new shelter to allow family visits without risking the spread of coronavirus, writes Ryan Leston.
The new six-sided glazed structure known as The Bandstand will protect the elderly while allowing family visits at the College Fields Nursing Home.
“Our residents are extremely vulnerable,” said Nursing Home director Mike Kemp.
“But they also need interaction with their families and loved ones for their mental health and wellbeing.”
Public Health Wales advises that external, well-ventilated areas are less likely to allow the spread of coronavirus.
But with cold winter weather, an outdoor visit poses significant health risks to older or more frail residents.
The Bandstand is wheelchair accessible with wide entrances.
It is being built at the front of the nursing home for ease of access to both residents and families.
“We decided to find a structure with at least two entrances, that could be well-ventilated to keep residents safe,” said Mr Kemp.
“The Bandstand will allow at least one resident, perhaps two, at any one time to have company from loved ones.”
Electric lights and heaters will allow staff to make the area more comfortable for residents.
The Welsh Government previously banned visits to care homes across Wales.
But rules subsequently announced by the First Minister have allowed indoor visits to residents since August 29.
He suggested residents should declare a single ‘designated visitor’ and that groups should not be admitted.
Mr Kemp said: “We have been bombarded with new guidance often many times a week.
“More often amending previous guidance and visiting has played a challenging part of that.”
College Fields Nursing Home previously used two large gazebos to provide shelter for outdoor visits.