CARE home residents in Alderley Edge and Wilmslow are among the latest Cheshire sites to start allowing indoor visits.

As national lockdown restrictions begin to ease across the UK, residents at Bupa’s Brookview and Hazelmere House care homes have happily begun receiving visits from loved ones in their rooms.

Indoor visits with one nominated visitor were allowed from March 8, and care homes across Cheshire have since been working to introduce the new arrangements and implement the necessary safety requirements.

Rebecca Pearson, operations director, explains: "We understand how important time with loved ones is for our residents’ happiness and wellbeing, so we’re delighted to restart these visits.

"We know how much it means for families to hold hands, and the tremendous lift this gives everyone.

"Families are a big part of our community, so we really pleased to be carefully reintroducing these visits again."

Indoor visits will be managed safely in-line with national guidance.

Each resident can receive one nominated visitor, who will need to complete a lateral flow test that shows negative before the visit.

Guests will also be provided the necessary PPE by the care home and will be managed in line with social distancing.

While guidance previously prevented face-to-face visits, Brookview and Hazelmere House have been working hard keep families connected during the pandemic.

The homes have both installed a warm and comfortable visiting pod fitted with screens to manage infection control.

They also offer window visits and regular phone and video calls to help families stay connected.

Rebecca added: "We have put in place a range of visiting options in line with guidelines so that families can stay connected, whilst keeping residents safe.

"We’ll continue with all of these, so residents can see more of their loved ones.

"Our teams have worked so hard, and I’m so proud of all our people who have been such heroes over the past year.

"They’ve shown professionalism, compassion and kindness and gone above and beyond to make residents smile.

"We know the past year has been difficult for families too, missing contact with loved ones as well as wanting us to keep them safe.

"Their support, trust and understanding has been hugely appreciated by us all."