Difficult year says husband of Scarborough care home resident
The husband of a care home resident in Scarborough has been speaking about how hard it has been in the last 12 months.
The husband of a care home resident in Scarborough has been speaking about how hard it has been in the last 12 months.
73-year-old Alan Ashton's wife Susan, who is 74, has been at Saint Cecilia's for the past five years with dementia.
He said:
"I used to visit the home six days a week and I used to my help wife with her lunch and was there for about an hour. When lockdown started I couldn't visit and she ate more when I was feeding her than she did with the carers.
"It was very difficult because I had a set routine and all of a sudden that had been altered. We did have video calls on a regular basis but they're not the same as being able to see somebody face-to-face and hold hands etc.
"Emotionally it's a big relief and it's also quite a shock to the system after so long to be able to go on visits. We had had visits in-between lockdowns but with no contact. At least now I can go and hold her hand and speak to her, although she speaks very little now.
"Because they are only half hour visits that when it's time to go, she doesn't want to let go of my hand. So she does still know me although she doesn't speak, her face lights up when she sees me and she doesn't want me to leave.
"I think as we have the second lot of vaccines that maybe we will be able to give a hug and a kiss, just a show of feelings to her which I think she misses quite honestly.
"The most important thing is to keep the residents safe and the Government has to make the decision on whether we can do without the PPE so that we can do hugs. Holding somebody's hand with plastic gloves on like Marigolds isn't very nice."