Exeter care home keeps activities going for residents in pandemic

The manager of an Exeter care home has rejected media reports that residents are being isolated in their rooms during the pandemic.

Kerry Dempsey, who leads the team at The Old Rectory Nursing Home, says staff are working very hard to ensure that residents are enjoying a programme of stimulating activities, despite the constraints of the virus.

She says: “it is simply not true that residents are stuck in their rooms. If they are well and want to socialise, our staff are being very creative in finding entertaining things to do. For example, we recently celebrated Valentine’s Day with singing, dancing, cake, and red roses. Residents have also been enjoying a wide range of activities on a weekly basis, including music, singing, craft activities and baking bread.”

Kerry, who has over 30 years’ experience in the care and nursing sectors, adds: “This has obviously been a time of great anxiety for our residents, especially as they have been unable to see their families and friends during the latest lockdown. But we are now cautiously working our way towards opening up visiting in line with Government guidance, and we are looking forward to brighter days ahead.”

The Old Rectory is one of four care homes in Devon owned by the Southern Healthcare Group. The company was set up in 2001 by Geoffrey Cox.

The Old Rectory offers nursing, dementia, and residential care in the Mount Pleasant area of Exeter. The home has its own country-style pub and a café.

The home has won numerous awards and holds a Certificate of Registration from the Eden Alternative UK, a philosophy which develops strategies to address the potential challenges of loneliness, helplessness and boredom experienced by elderly people.