Video of care home staff dancing with residents during lockdown goes viral

Throughout the UK, care homes have had to make the difficult decision to close their doors to families and visitors but one care home in Lowestoft is ensuring their residents have ‘the best time’.

Manor Farm Care Home in Kessingland decided to cheer the residents up by doing a video to send to their families. The video showing staff and residents dancing together has been viewed on Facebook over 143.5k times and shared 242 times.

’I can’t sing but I will just to see them smile’

Manor Farm Care Home manager, Jayne Haskins said: “We had every department there from maintenance, domestic, the care staff and the residents. We went out in the garden and had a couple of practices and then there’s our video on Facebook.

“One of our residents who doesn’t normally join in with activities was joining in with our practices and joined in with the video. We did the routine about three or four times because they were enjoying it that much."

Little did the staff know how big an impression the video was about to make on Facebook. Ms Haskins said: “We weren’t expecting it to go that big. We are a little fisherman’s village in the middle of nowhere.”

Since lockdown, all staff have been busy creating a happy atmosphere for the residents at the home. “We’ve been doing lots of things trying to keep the residents happy and entertained. We have just bought a karaoke machine. I can’t sing, but I will, just to see them smile."

Vinay Patel, owner of KRG Healthcare said: “The stress and fear that many residents are going through with COVID is something that many people are forgetting.

“What we have collectively agreed is to make sure the happiness levels are constantly on a high. It gives us pleasure to see our residents happy. “We can go back home and put our heads to the pillow, knowing happiness is when we come back in the next day and make the residents even more happy.”

Ms Haskins added: “The staff are frightened of COVID but they are not frightened of making sure our residents are safe and happy.”

Since lockdown, the staff have taken a photo of all residents, and sent them to their families and loved ones.

Kylie Child, head of care said: “I had a family member phone me this morning to see how her husband was. She said she has got a picture of him on the front of her chair and when she eats, she feels he is with her.

"She said she could not ask for anywhere better for him and feels fortunate her husband was with us.”

'Every day she gives him a little wave and sends him little love letters'

Technology such as Facebook at the home has been more important than ever to keep communication channels open to families and loved ones. “With Facebook, it’s not just about posting activities, it’s about posting the pictures of their families looking well and happy because that’s what they want to see,” says Ms Child.

“It could be something simple such as eating their favourite meal or just sitting there watching a movie but if they have a smile on their face, I take that picture and we post it.

“We have a lovely garden out the front with a fence and we have a lady who lives across the road and her husband lives here. Every day she comes across the road and gives him a little wave and sends him little love letters.”

The staff at the home have their own WhatsApp group. “If anyone is feeling down or a bit scared, or wants to share something, we are doing that with each other and that has worked really well.,” says Ms Haskins.

’Knowing we are all riding the same storm brings us closer together’

Manor Farm Care Home has not had any cases of coronavirus and sticks to the government advice.

Ms Haskins said: “Everybody is doing what they are supposed to do. The staff are amazing they have been covering every shift. We have not had to use an agency and no need to move in. If the situation got to a point, we already have a plan in place. We have pulled together brilliantly.

“We have an amazing housekeeping team and one of them is our infection control lead. She is of military precise, if she sees anything, she’s on it. They are working so hard.

We have to make this the best time for the residents until they can see their loved ones again. Knowing we are all in the same boat or riding the same storm brings us all closer together.”

In regards to PPE shortages, Mr Patel said: “The guidance is changing daily. We are trying our level best to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and residents come first. But we have been lucky that we are constantly liaising with our council and our suppliers.

“We have printing shops which have facilities to print visors so we’re looking to donate 100 pieces to both of our homes, so if things got serious, we are ready. The care providers give us regular updates about where we can get PPE.

“We are hoping as the curve flattens, the PPE will increase and there will be more available for everyone.”

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