Emotional day for Sheffield care home as it finally opens its doors to visitorsThe start of indoor visits at HC-One’s Swallownest care home in Sheffield began on 8th March as visiting restrictions were eased.

After months of hard work from Colleagues at the home, making sure provisions were in place and every aspect of infection control was met, Swallownest care home could not wait to finally allow indoor visits for their Residents.

Throughout the virus, most of Swallownest Residents have had constant contact with families either through video calls, phone calls, window waves or garden visits and although Colleagues are very proud of making that possible for them, to finally see Residents hold their loved one’s hand, has been very emotional and worth all the hard work.

Swallownest Resident Frances Thompson had not seen her daughter Linda for over 18 months. Frances lived at Swallownest just as her daughter Linda Thompson took seriously ill before coronavirus, and was in hospital for a long time. 

Linda’s recovery was during lock down and she was unable to visit due to shielding. The reunion was so beautiful and very emotional for everyone involved.

Swallownest Home Manager, Amanda Fields said: “The start of our indoor visits has been very emotional not just for our Residents but for the staff too.”

The allocated visiting room was prepared well in advance of the visits and the welcome posters were put in place on the day, to decrease infection control risks.