Innovation at a Royston care home is allowing residents to see loved ones safely during the pandemic
Melbourn Springs Care Home leads the way with new visiting room
Submitted by Dan Amis
Residents are overjoyed at Melbourn Springs care home, near Royston, Hertfordshire, as they have a designated visiting room for residents to continue to spend time with their loved ones.
The designated visiting room has been designed with both comfort and safety in
mind and is accessible internally by residents and externally by visitors.
It seemed right that the home’s first resident, Iris and her family were the first to
use the new room.
After officially opening the visiting room Iris said: “Goodness, isn’t this clever?
“We really are very lucky to have this special room to see our family and everything has been thought of. It really is excellent.”
The visiting room is similar to a living room with comfortable furnishings and heating to create a welcoming and warm environment for residents to continue to spend time with their loved ones in the upcoming months.
The room even has an intercom system fitted so residents can clearly communicate, and engage in conversation, whilst being able to see their friends and family through a perspex glass divider fitted for safety to prevent the spread of the corona virus.
Infection control protocols and safe social distancing are in place for every visit,
including a hand sanitizer station before entry.
Cleaning at Melbourn Springs care home will take place after each visit to ensure chairs, seats, hard surfaces including windowsills, and the perspex glass divider are wiped down appropriately.
Feedback from families to date has meant that the majority of people would
accept unusual arrangements if it meant being able to see their loved ones while also keeping themselves safe, as a temporary measure.
Barchester Healthcare hope to allow visits again as normal once it is safe to do so following government guidance.
Karen Allen general manager at the home, added: “Our visiting room has been a
much welcomed development for our residents at Melbourn Springs to continue to
receive much looked forward to visits from their loved ones, as the weather changes.”
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