Little Boy Meets His Great-Nan For First Time Thanks To Covid-Safe Pod At Care Home

A little boy finally got to see his nan for the first time, thanks to Covid-safe pods that were installed in her care home.

Kayleigh, 31, a teacher from Liverpool, had her baby boy Freddie on 22 January 2020. But before her nan Alice had chance to meet the new addition to the family, she broke her hip and was taken to hospital.

Alice, 81, who has dementia, didn't get to meet Freddie while she was in hospital. When she felt better, she was able to go back to the nursing home she lives in.

Devastatingly, the nursing home then went into lockdown due to Covid-19 - about two weeks before the national lockdown was brought in back in March.

But the care home has been working on the innovative 'Chatterbox' pods, meaning baby Freddie could finally meet his doting nan.

Speaking to LADbible, mum Kayleigh said: "He met her for the first time at nine months old, when the pod was introduced into the home.

"The visiting pods are known as the 'Chatterboxes' and are basically a room with a big window in with a chair on either side with mics and speakers in.

"When you book a visit you can sit and speak to your loved one in the chatterbox pod."

As a close family, Kayleigh explained that it has been difficult for everyone to not see their nan.

Although staff at the home arranged calls and FaceTimes as much as they could, understandably, it wasn't quite the same.

But the chatterbox pods have been a godsend for everyone.

She said: "It was brilliant news when the pods opened. It was really emotional to see my nan and see how amazing she was with Freddie. She seemed back to her old self and was laughing and playing peek-a-boo behind the glass.

"It was amazing to see.

"The staff who work at the home have said how much the visits have cheered Nan up and how she's started to talk about people by name again and is asking when her next visit is."

With the pods now fully up-and-running, the residents have been cheered up no-end by being able to see their loved ones.

And Christmas might be saved too. The home is piloting lateral flow tests, meaning two nominated family members may be able to go in for face to face visits - real life contact for the first time since February.

Kayleigh's nan is living at Garden Lodge Care Home in Liverpool and it has thankfully remained Covid-free - much to the credit of the staff, who all lived in completely at one point to protect their residents.

Kayleigh added: "The staff are always upbeat and really care about the residents in the home. In particular, Shell keeps in touch with my Auntie Julie, she updates her all the time, FaceTimes us, sends videos and even calls on her days off to let us know how nan is getting on.

"The whole team have been amazing. My nan is happy, and we are comforted by that. Katherine and Hannah the management team, Donna the events organiser, Ludo and Peter too - we can't thank them enough for keeping them all safe and happy."