Couple re-united after a year at care home

A couple have been re-united for the first time in months as care homes across the nation welcome back visitors.

Since Monday (March 8) care home residents will be allowed one nominated regular visitor to their care homes, marking the first stage of lockdown restrictions easing in England.

The nominated regular visitor will be allowed to enter the care home where the resident is living for regular visits, provided they have completed an asymptomatic test, received a negative test result, and wear the appropriate PPE.

Flo McNeilly, a resident at Eden Cottage Care Home, and her husband Harry McNeilly, who lives at their family home on Maxwell Close, had not seen each other throughout the pandemic due to lockdown restrictions.

Now that the restrictions have been eased to allow one visitor, it was a priority for the care home to see the couple of 67 years happily re-united.

Joanne Wedge, Registered Manager at Eden Cottage Care Home, said: “We are over the moon to finally reunite Flo and Harry, after what has been a very difficult year for all of us.

“Flo and Harry have been married for an incredible 67 years and we all felt quite emotional during their first visit. We are delighted to have been able to keep Flo and the rest of our residents safe during the pandemic to enable us to facilitate these reunions - it has been a very special day”.

The couple were very pleased to be able to see each other again.

Mr. McNeilly, aged 91, said: “I have waited a year to be able to visit my wife face to face and it feels absolutely wonderful”.

Mrs. McNeilly aged 92, said: “After what has been a very long year, to finally be able to hold my husband’s hand means the absolute world to me”.

Visitors to care homes are reminded to make sure they do not have any Covid-19 symptoms before planning their visit. These include a continuous cough, a high temperature and loss of taste and smell.

Penny Spring, Director of Public Health at Darlington Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted to hear the wonderful story of Mr and Mrs McNeilly being re-united after a year at one of the town’s care homes.

“It must have been difficult to be separated for so long, but the dedication of the care home staff to protecting their residents is truly admirable and should be celebrated alongside the wonderful couple.

“We remind all Darlington residents that before they visit a loved one at a care home in Darlington, they must first have no Covid-19 symptoms, take an asymptomatic test and wear the appropriate PPE.

All Darlington residents can book a test before their visit at one of our six community testing sites to ensure their visit is as safe and enjoyable as possible.”

Community tests at Darlington’s testing sites must be booked.

Tests can also be provided by the care home before the visit.