Restrictions at Sussex care homes ease today
A carer in Bexhill described seeing families separated during the pandemic as "heart wrenching"
Covid restrictions surrounding care homes in Sussex are easing today.
There is now no limit on the number of visitors allowed at care homes, self-isolation periods will be cut and care homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 days, not 28.
It's the latest in the gradual easing of restrictions in recent weeks.
Matthew Mitchell is a carer at Mais House in Bexhill-on-Sea. He said: "We've done the best we can to care for the residents that are here during these testing times over the last couple of years.
"It'll be lovely for the residents to have their families visit and there's only so much we can do, family bonding is obviously the best thing.
"Some of these people are very old and their families obviously love them dearly, and unfortunately you know, like I say, the care staff here have been fantastic. They work really hard to keep these people entertained, keep them happy and love them to bits, but without the family visiting them, they're missing something."
Matthew says the pandemic has seriously impacted the care sector, not just residents at care homes.
He says the situation at Mais House has got to the point where they're in desperate need of new staff.
"We have lost some good, valuable people and we hope to build a whole new family back up. Now we start easing out the pandemic and people are now looking for work and hopefully want to be part of this family."