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WATCH: Nursing homes welcome back visitors

A care home for people with dementia has been documenting its patients' first visitors in month...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

20.43 15 Jun 2020


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WATCH: Nursing homes welcome b...

WATCH: Nursing homes welcome back visitors

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

20.43 15 Jun 2020


Share this article


A care home for people with dementia has been documenting its patients' first visitors in months.

As part of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, visits of up to two people are allowed in homes with no outbreaks for 28 days.

The visits must be pre-arranged and last no longer than half an hour.

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Each visitor also has to undergo a temperature check before entering, and will only be allowed to visit once a week.

St Joseph's Shankill has been posting videos of its first visitors in three months.

Seamus was the first visitor back to see his wife Ella.

The couple have been married for more than 50 years.

On the visit, Seamus said: "It went very well, it was a bit emotional of course after three months not seeing my wife Ella.

"But it went extremely well, I was very happy to see her and she was happy to see me and we had a lovely time together.

"It's difficult: three months is the longest separation I ever had from Ella.

"So it's been difficult, but it has helped that I've been able to have a video phonecall with Ella everyday - and that's been a great help in bridging the gap".

Monica came to visit her mother, Joan.

Speaking after the visit, she said: "She's fantastic, great form - could do with a hair cut - but in super form and really happy to see me, so that was an added bonus".

"It was enough [time] to get close and hold hands, and have a chat about everybody that she misses and hear about the grandkids and see photographs.

"So she was really happy".

And Michael was re-united with his wife Maura, who he serenaded with the accordion.

Main image via @sjdementia on Twitter

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