RESIDENTS at a Flintshire care home will be able to see their loved ones in person for the first time in almost 15 weeks courtesy of specially adapted meeting pods.

Willowdale Residential Home, in Buckley, this week had the specially adapted pods, which will facilitate reunions between its residents and their loved ones, delivered.

The pods will allow residents and their families to meet without without directly coming into contact.

Sam Evans, manager at the home, said: “I’m so excited for the visitor pods, as are the residents - I think it’s a brilliant idea, and it’s going to have a huge impact on the residents.

"It’s been 14 weeks since we closed our doors to visitors, and everyone has been amazing with this change. We’re so lucky we’ve been able to keep in touch through letters, emails, phone calls and video calls, but to actually have contact in this way is going to make a big difference to the residents and their wellbeing.”

The clever design incorporates an internal transparent PVC screen, which allows the resident to see their loved one in a safe, enclosed environment.

The pods have two entrances, and are sanitised between uses too. Most importantly they allow residents and visitors to shield themselves, since distance is always safely maintained via the screen. The internal wall is a floor-to-ceiling transparent screen, creating the closest possible experience to normal visiting within the home.

Visitors need only to arrange an appointment, and are then allocated a mutually convenient time to see their loved one - allowing for the pods to be cleaned thoroughly between reunions.

Sam continued: “Willowdale was one of the first homes in the area to close, and has not taken any new admissions without a clear Covid-19 test result. We believe this decision has saved lives.

"The carers have been working so hard to keep the residents connected with their loved ones during the lockdown using phones and iPads. They have had some ‘window’ visits too, but there is something very special about seeing someone in person.

“We know that our residents and their loved ones have missed each other desperately, and wanted to encourage open-air visiting. However, we felt that it would pose a serious risk if rules were not observed. So, we went back to the drawing board to look for a physical barrier to help deter this, and this is what we have come up with.”

“Although all the residents have been brilliant through this pandemic, and have accepted these changes with great ease, they’ve also gone through tremendous worry with not having had visual contact. These visitor pods will enable residents to meet with their families in a safe, private place. Although there are restrictions in place, including distancing and the safety screen, I feel this is the least clinical – and most emotive – way we can provide this service.”