Chawley Grove Care Home in Cumnor Hill has successfully completed extensive renovation work to make indoor visits possible for the first time since March this year, when the home went into lockdown.
As the winter months approach the Oxfordshire home is committed to ensuring relatives and friends are able to see their loves ones in the comfort and safety of the home thanks to the Covid-secure Family & Friends Lounge.
Home Manager, Theresa Whitford said: “Maintaining relationships and seeing loved ones is a key part to anyone’s emotional and mental wellbeing. This has been one of our greatest focuses during COVID-19.
“It is so important to keep these important ties and now we have a wonderful Family & Friends Lounge which allows people to stay connected.
“This is a very welcome addition to our home and we are glad to see it being used so joyfully.”
The specially designed visiting space features a floor to ceiling clear screen which allows visits to take place without the need to wear PPE. The comfortable furniture gives it a relaxing and cosy feel so much enjoyed at Chawley Grove.
Crucially, the totally enclosed spaces mean relatives can enter and exit the home without having any contact with the main building, which maximises infection control measures whilst exceptional cleaning practices are conducted between every visit.
Among the first people to use the Family & Friends Lounge at Chawley Grove are Mary McAvoy, 93, and her daughter Anne Hodgson.
Mary, a former teacher at Our Lady’s Abingdon School, said: “The room is wonderful – I don’t know who thought of it, but what a fantastic idea! It was so lovely to see my daughter and wonderful to have that contact.
“The ladies here do such a fantastic job – I don’t know how they do it! I feel so safe here and it makes such a difference to have these family visits.”
Mary, who has four children and 11 grandchildren has lived in Oxford since the age of seven.
The inspired suite, which all loved ones will have the option of using, will allow for the precious meetings to continue inside of the home as the winter sets in.
Visits will continue to take place in the Family & Friends Lounge for the foreseeable future.
Find out more about Chawley Grove here, or contact our home directly on 01865 957650 or email [email protected]
