The 365 letters that got St Ives care home resident through lockdown

Home news

Apr 23, 2021

A St Ives care home resident was delighted to spend quality time with her daughter, following the easing of restrictions, after receiving daily letters for the last year.

86-year-old Pat, from Care UK’s Field Lodge, on London Road, has been keeping in touch with her daughter through her very own daily updates for the past year.

Julie ensured Pat was kept up to date with family life, totting up a grand total of 365 letters, printed off by the team at Field Lodge for Pat to read each day. As restrictions eased throughout the year, Julie was able to visit Pat through the home’s visiting suites, but kept up her routine letters to ensure Pat didn’t miss a thing.

Pat said: “Receiving daily letters helped me to feel closer to my family while we were unable to meet up, and I looked forward to reading them every day. We’ll be able to look back on the letters together in years to come, as they provide a way for us to reflect on such an unusual time.”

Linda Martinez, Home Manager at Field Lodge, said: “Before the pandemic, Julie would visit Pat often, and the letters were a fantastic way of ensuring she didn’t miss out on their usual mother-daughter catch ups.

“Throughout the pandemic, residents have kept in touch with their relatives through video and phone calls, and as restrictions have lifted, have enjoyed finally being able to chat in person through our visiting suites. It’s been wonderful to watch – relatives are part of our Field Lodge family, and we are thrilled to be able to continue to welcome them back!”

Field Lodge is a modern purpose-built care home providing full-time residential, nursing, and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has a choice of lounges and dining rooms, along with facilities such as an activity room, cinema and hair salon.

To find out more about Field Lodge, please call Customer Relations Manager, Jo Molloy-Cruden on 01480 877638, or email johan.molloy-cruden@careuk.com

For more general information, visit careuk.com/ field-lodge