Care home installs glass so people can see loved ones for first time in weeks

Little Isla’s dimpled fingers instinctively reach out to her great-grandmother Jean Johnson’s frail hand as they meet again in Jean’s care home – for the first time after 11 long weeks under lockdown.

And the rush of absolute joy which suddenly animates 81-year-old Jean’s face prompts an instant grin from the toddler.

That joy and this emotional reunion is all possible because of a simple perspex wall.

Like care-home residents up and down the country, Jean, who is living with Alzheimer’s, has not been allowed to receive any visits.

Because she struggles with video calls, her grandson Richard Johnson, 34, and his 15-month-old, have not been able to see her – till now.

But the Beverley Parklands care home, in Hull, East Yorks, has unveiled an innovative idea to reunite families, erecting a wall of perspex down the middle of a ground-floor room so residents can safely sit one side as families enter from outside and sit on the other.

Police officer Richard said: “When she walked in, Nana was absolutely full of smiles and immediately held out her arms for me to pass her Isla.

“She was holding the glass to touch Isla’s hands, Isla was laughing and waving and playing peekaboo with her dress, it was so moving. I can’t give her the cuddle I want to yet, but the fact I can now see her means so much. Our visits reducing to nothing was heartbreaking, I have really felt the loss of her.

“She may have forgotten the visit by tonight, but in the moment, it meant so much to her.”

Christine Eyre, 65, arrived with husband Mike and golden retriever Ted, named after her dad, Ted Lancaster, 94, who lived with them before Alzheimer’s led to the care home.

It was difficult to tell who was more overjoyed – Ted the dog, excitedly rubbing his wet nose over the perspex, or Ted the dad, transfixed by his old pal.

“Ted would always come and get me when Dad got up in the night at home,” confides Christine, in tears after her visit.

“They are best mates. It has been dreadful not to be there for Dad. To tell him I love him and to see him say he loves me... This has made such a difference.”

Sitting by another perspex wall in nearby Westfield Park care home, in Goole, it was Tom Theaker’s turn for tears when he got a visit from daughter Carol Proctor, 74.

A fall landed the 93-year-old in hospital during lockdown and, without visitors, he became depressed. “Carol is a blossom and I have really missed her,” he admits.

“It was very emotional in the room, but I feel much better now for having seen her.”