Exeter care home residents enjoy out-of-home activities once again

Residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Cadogan Court, in Exeter, were delighted to be able to enjoy a short trip to the local garden centre, following the latest guidance from the government. The recent changes mean that care home residents can now participate in low-risk, out-of-home visits without having to self-isolate on their return to the care homes.

Staff have worked tirelessly to ensure residents continue to exercise and keep active in the Home and in their gardens and outdoor spaces. However, this is the first time they have been able to safely leave the grounds and enjoy an activity outside the care home. To ensure their health and safety, residents were accompanied by staff members, kept social distance and remained outside at all times, in line with the government’s current roadmap out of lockdown. 

The residents, who are members of Cadogan Court’s Gardening Club, travelled via the Home’s mini bus to visit the garden centre, where they had a good look around and selected many plants to put in the Home’s garden and greenhouse; roses, clematis, strawberries and even tomatoes were among their choices. On the way back to the care home, the mini bus was full of laughter and chatter.

One of the residents on the trip was 93 year old Pat Johns. She said: “It was a lovely afternoon at the garden centre. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing a bit more of the world again! It seemed like such a treat.”

For resident Janet Wigmore, aged 100, it was a chance to remember her own garden as she chose dahlias and said: “I used to grow a lot of dahlias in my own garden. It is lovely to have them again.”

The Gardening Club are already planning their next trip with help from Cadogan Court’s Activities team. One of the options they are considering is an open park in the local area.

Home Manager Clare Walker, who also joined the trip to the garden centre, said: “This activity has brought a lot of excitement to residents and staff. Now that they are able to meet their loved ones in person and enjoy out-of-home activities, we are very much looking forward to supporting our residents to reconnect with their local community and enjoy new activities.”

In March, Cadogan Court re-opened their doors to family visits in line with Government guidance. Prior to this, families were still able to meet their loved ones safely using the Home’s visitor pod which opened last year.

Currently all visitors must undergo the necessary health and safety checks, including receiving a negative lateral flow test result and wearing PPE before entering a care home.

Cadogan Court, run by RMBI Care Co is part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The Home is currently able to safely welcome new residents. For more information, please visit: http://www.rmbi.org.uk/