Son of 93 year-old says care homes give 'happiness to millions' so we must #CelebrateCareHomes

The son of a 93-year-old care home resident has said society must celebrate care homes and shout about Britain’s unsung care heroes who are keeping COVID-19 away while giving “happiness to millions”.

The campaign, #CelebrateCareHomes, praises care workers’ efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 30 care homes, run by Sunrise Senior Living and Gracewell Healthcare groups, making music videos of life in lockdown and posting it to TikTok.

Care workers ‘endlessly cheerful’

Bob Skinner aged 93-year-old lives at Sunrise of Cardiff care home. Bob Skinner said: “The darkest days may be coming to an end” but “no-one will ever forget the devotion of carers and the personal sacrifices they made in serving residents and their families. “There is no substitute for a happy, settled family life in your own home but, when the time comes, care homes are an obvious choice. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

“The carers and staff have all been efficient, endlessly cheerful, despite their personal worries of lockdown and the obvious danger to their health.

“They are our friends, and they have made my new home-from-home a pleasure and certainly a relief to my family. That is why the Celebrate Care Homes campaign is so important.”

One of the TikTok videos promoting the campaign shows a care worker and resident slow dance at Gracewell of Edgebaston care home to the sound of the late Vera Lynn singing ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’.

Britain’s care homes give ‘happiness to millions’

Bob Skinner’s son Rob Skinner, said: “It is right to ask us to celebrate Britain’s care homes. They play a vital part in the life of the community and provide care and happiness to millions of people.

“During the coronavirus pandemic, I have been very grateful for the care and kindness that the care home has given my 93-year-old father.

“At a worrying time, I was confident he was in the safest place for him. It was a huge relief that he moved when he did. It would have been far more stressful if he had still been living on his own. He has thrived. We are so grateful".

Margaret Wakenshaw, 84-year-old resident at Gracewell of Church Crookham care home, said: “I could not cope alone in my own home when I lived there. This pandemic has really changed my opinion of care homes because we could not have been better looked after.

“Care homes need to be celebrated because the care staff work really hard and are very kind – even though they are on their feet all day. Care homes are lovely places to be – places where we feel safe and supported.”

‘Public think this service is unskilled’

Mark Thatcher, whose mum lives at Gracewell of Sway care home, said: “With the diagnosis of my mother’s dementia, I knew there was going to be an increasing struggle to match her complete determination to stay in her lovely home in Epsom.

“Having experienced the level of effort, patience and compassion needed to ensure a person with dementia has the quality of life we all want for them, I am in awe of the dedication and expertise of care home staff.

“I’m sure the general public think this service is unskilled, undemanding and does not warrant a high salary. My experience is completely the opposite.

“This campaign must bring public awareness of what care is actually being provided, how demanding that service …for those in their twilight years”.

Care homes, Mr Thatcher said, are the “unrecognised heroes of a society that takes for granted that the sector will be there when they need it, but do not think in earnest about how important the work of the sector is until they come to need it for themselves”.

To view the TikTok videos used in the #CelebrateCareHomes campaign click here