Llandrindod Wells children write to care home residents

After lockdown restrictions were put into place, all visitors, whether friends, family or hairdressers, have been unable to come into the home.

However, staff at the Wylesfield decided to put out an appeal to ask if any children would like to write a letter or paint a picture for the residents.

“We just asked if any of the children would like to send in pictures through Facebook. We were inundated with them,” said Netty Nickson, deputy manager of the Wylesfield Care Home.

Children aged from two to seven sent in most of the letters and pictures, with some creating rainbow posters for the home to stick in its windows to raise a smile during the coronavirus crisis.

Netty said: “We have had some beautiful pictures sent in. We’ve got them hanging up in our lounge. It’s lovely. It’s really lovely.”

Letters written from the children have also been read out to residents by care home staff, giving them some comfort when their relatives can’t visit.

“None of our residents can see their families and they can get a bit lonely.

“Some of the families Skype and one lady sends her husband letters. She used to visit every day. We have been calling them love letters. We’ve been reading them to him. It’s really lovely. We’re looking forward to the next one, not just him!”

Some of these residents, such as those dementia, might not even have a clue what’s happening, as Netty points out. That’s why the home is trying to keep things as normal as possible.

“It’s the little things they miss, like the hairdresser that used to come in every week. One of our staff has taken up that role. To keep things as normal as possible for everyone.”

As well as local children sending in their creations, the Wylesfield has received visors for staff made by teachers at Llanidloes High School and Easter eggs from the Metropole Hotel.

Netty said that the older generation do get forgotton, but that now, “the community support has been fantastic”.

“Let’s hope it stays,” she said.