On Friday 18 June we were visited by reporter JP Devlin from BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, who was keen to hear about how our home coped during the pandemic.
JP interviewed several people at the home, from Caron Sanders-Crook, our operations manager, to several of the residents, amassing a unique insight into life at the home throughout the various lockdowns.
Residents were happy to share their experience of the pandemic, as well as their life stories, with JP. He was taken aback by their gratitude for the care team here at Cedars, and was also encouraged by the fortitude shown by carers and residents alike. Doris, one of the residents interviewed, said that she was very happy despite being 103! She went on to say that she was well looked after here.
Another resident, Betty, told JP that she had had “a picnic on top of the Andes, been in a salt mine and in a submarine” as a younger woman. She expressed the importance to her of the “very good” friendships she has made at Cedars. She also believes that if everybody in the world followed the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines, we’d be in a much better position overall!
Afterwards, JP met Brian Shaw, a longstanding (and much-loved) entertainer at the home. He spoke about his own experience during the pandemic, and how disruptive it was to his business, as he could no longer see his audience or dance with them – his “favourite part of the show”. Brian was determined not to let the virus get in the way. So he adapted to a more ‘Covid-friendly’ approach by using Zoom to put on a show for his audience. He went on to say that it felt normal again being back face to face, despite the big plastic screen between him and his audience. “There will come a time again where we can hold hands with [the residents] and get up and dance, and everything else we like to do in the show.”
It was lovely for the residents to chat to JP and the afternoon was rounded off in style with an engaging show from Brian. The programme aired at around 7.43am on Monday 21 June, and you can listen to it here (1:43:45).
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