Care home 'companions' on the rise for residents missing family in lockdown

A care home provider has decided to dramatically expand its ‘companionship’ team of musicians and teachers, to lift the spirits of residents unable to hug and kiss their family during lockdown.

Colten Care has appointed 18 new recruits to give residents “meaningful” one-to-one time as well as lead group activities like arts and music sessions.

The new hires include singers, musicians and teachers who will collectively give 1,000 residents at Colten’s 21 care homes an extra 469 hours of companionship every week. The move was made in response to residents’ families facing renewed restrictions on care home visiting under the government's latest national lockdown measures.

We’ve ‘upped our game’

Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s operations director, said: “We already put great store on enabling residents to enjoy companionship and lovely experiences with others. We know how powerful and valuable this is for people’s daily living.

“During the pandemic, the constraints on family visiting have heightened the need for companionship because of the lack of opportunity for face-to-face contact with loved ones.

“That’s why we have ‘upped our game’ and invested in the expansion of our dedicated team.

“The resident is at the very heart of everything we do, with clinical, companionship and other team members all supporting their emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.”

Daughter: ’Worrying time for everybody’

Tracey Tarrant, whose mother lives at Colten Care’s Bourne View care home in Poole, said: “It is a worrying time for everybody, and people everywhere are trying to get their heads around the severity of it all, but we have as much peace of mind as it’s possible to muster knowing mum is receiving excellent care in a comfortable, safe environment.

“The staff are truly caring, loving people who treat your family member as if they were their family member.

“With their support, mum has come on in leaps and bounds and re-found her confidence and independence to a level we never thought possible.”

Resident Ken: ‘There’s always something to do’

Ken Vivian, a resident at Brook View care home in Dorset, said: “It depends on what you want”.

“There’s always something to do, and that’s down to the staff. I like them very much. They’re easy to talk to and they’ll do anything for you.”

Among the new companions is Nicky Stevens, a singer in of the Eurovision-winning group Brotherhood of Man. The band gained worldwide fame when they won the Eurovision song contest in 1976 with the song 'Save Your Kisses for Me'.

Nicky Stevens was appointed by Colten Care as a companionship recruit at Amberwood House care home in Ferndown. Apart from singing to residents, her role includes leading arts and crafts group sessions, hosting quizzes and games, and spending one-to-one time with individual residents.

Referring to her new job in the companionship team, Nicky Stevens said: “It’s wonderful to be able to use my talents to help provide residents who are vulnerable with stimulation and keep them cheered up. I’m loving this opportunity.”

click here for more details or to contact Colten Care Ltd