A FLINTSHIRE care home has shared the heart-warming moment that families were able to reunite for the first time since 2020.

After 12 months of lockdown, on March 23, Wellfield Residential Care Home in Hawarden welcomed in nominated family visitors to see their loved ones in person for the first time since coronavirus forced care homes to shut their doors.

Welsh Government announced earlier this year that restrictions on care home visits would be relaxed as the country moves out of the national lockdown that was tightened up prior to Christmas.

The Leader: The care home wanted to make the return of indoor visitors a celebration.

The care home wanted to make the return of indoor visitors a celebration.

In recent weeks, ministers announced that routine indoor care home visits are permitted for a single designated visitor but care homes took time to safely plan the return of visitors.

A video taken by the staff captured the lovely moment that Gill Williams and Wendy Mansell arrived at the care home to visit their mums, who were looking forward to spending some long overdue time in the same room.

Robert Noël, care home manager, told the Leader how the return of visitors was something that staff were keen to celebrate.

He said: “We’ve been planning for the last two weeks how we’re going to keep everyone safe when they come into the home as per the Welsh guidance.

“It was so lovely to be able to bring back some of our usual visitors. I know it’s been a very worrying time for them all not being able to see their family members but being able to capture that reconnection is a moment they’ll never want to forget.

“We wanted to make it a grand entrance for when they come back as its something really incredible I’m sure they’ve been looking forward to for months and months. Some families sadly were worried they’d never get to see their loved ones again.”

The Leader:

On March 23, Gill Williams was reunited in person with her mum Vera [bottom right]. Also, Wendy Mansell was able to hold her mum Joan's hand for the first time since 2020 [top right].

He explained how one visitor can come to the home at a time and PPE was provided for them after taking a COVID test.

All residents have nominated one person to come and visit them in person – which will be done on a three-week cycle to ensure everyone remains safe.

For those with more than one usual visitor, Robert explains how they can still book in to have a non-contact visit in their conservatory converted into a visitor pod.

Back in September, we reported how Wellfield made the adaptation to allow families the chance to come indoors and see their loved ones - without having to stand outside in the cold but still remaining safe.

For those residents living on the ground floor of the facility, they are able to have people visit them at their windows too.