Across the diocese, some care home communities have been facing a devastating time on the front line, with “deaths of residents, staff shortages and exhaustion”. There’s anxiety and concern, for staff, residents and relatives, as they navigate a path through. Staff are working incredibly hard – one care home manager I spoke to last week had got to work at 7am and she was still working, bringing medication back from a late night chemist at 8.45pm, before she finally returned to her own home at 10pm: she said, “I’m exhausted – and I wouldn’t be anywhere else”. Residents are missing seeing friends and relatives - there's a noticeable impact, with the absence of the usual visits, activities and social contacts. And for relatives, too, there’s real heart-stretch, embracing anxiety and uncertainty as well as reduced contact, while it’s not possible to visit in the usual way. Against this backdrop, with all its challenges, what are churches doing to support the community of residents, relatives and staff across our care homes? One vicar talks of “responding as the need arises and as we can...” Many churches have long term relationships with local care homes, helping them to be involved with sensitivity, discerning what’s genuinely supportive to staff, residents and relatives. It’s good to share some of the flexible ways that churches are using to keep in touch during this season.
God of our voyaging, |