High Wycombe care home residents hold hands with loved ones

Residents at Royal Star & Garter, in Hughenden Avenue, were able to have physical contact with their relatives yesterday (Monday) for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown began in March 2020.

It comes after the government gave the green light for indoor visits to restart.

Guidelines permit a single, designated visitor to meet each resident indoors, in specially adapted rooms.

All guests have to wear PPE and take a lateral flow test before entering the care home, and the rooms are thoroughly cleaned following each hour-long visit, Royal Star & Garter confirmed.

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Among the first visitors at the High Wycombe home was Judi Heath, who spent time with her husband, Army veteran Alan.

She said: “It’s been absolute hell not being able to touch him all this time. I was so excited before seeing him and it was amazing to hold his hands.”

Alan, who is living with dementia, described the visit as “lovely.”

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

A charity spokesman said: “Visits have been taking place between residents and loved ones since last June, when the charity was able to offer socially-distanced outdoor visits.”

Pauline Shaw, director of care at Royal Star & Garter, said: “Our staff have provided amazing, loving care during the Covid-19 crisis.

“It’s truly been care with courage. But nothing can replace a visit from a loved one.

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“We saw that with the outdoor and Covid-secure room visits, and the boost it gave residents. Being able to now hold hands will mean the world to people we care for.

“It’s been a long wait for everyone involved and our residents have shown such resilience and strength. We are all so delighted that they can have these wonderful reunions.”