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Thomas Tawell House resident Maurice Sadd chats with his sisters

Norwich care home resident sees family for first time since lockdown

A resident of a Norwich care home was able to meet his sisters face-to-face for the first time in three months, thanks to special socially-distanced visiting arrangements put in place by the home.

Maurice Sadd, 78, who lives at Vision Norfolk’s Thomas Tawell House care home for people with visual impairment, met sisters Jean Punnell and Pat Dale – the first visitors he has had since the beginning of March, when the home went into lockdown.

The three spent more than an hour chatting after the care home created a special visiting area under a canopy outside the home’s dining room, enabling residents and visitors to meet safely for the first time.

Mrs Dale, from Wymondham, said that the sisters had spoken with their brother daily on the telephone, but were excited to be seeing Maurice in the flesh for the first time.

“We have spoken to Maurice several times a day throughout lockdown, but it’s not the same as seeing him and being able to chat face-to-face,” she said.  “We are both so excited to be visiting for the first time since lockdown, and the conversation certainly won’t flag – Maurice always has something to talk about.”

One topic of conversation was the fate of Norwich City, as Mr Sadd, who has lived at Thomas Tawell House since 2008, is a keen supporter and season ticket holder at Carrow Road.

Sam Capper, manager at the care home, said, “It has been tough for the residents to stay isolated from the outside world for so long, and it is such a delight to see the pleasure on the faces of our residents when they have finally been able to have visitors once again.  Maurice is one of our longest-standing residents and we were all so pleased to see how excited and chuffed he was to be able to have visitors once again.

“Our staff have been absolutely fantastic at making sure our residents are safe and keeping their spirits up, but inevitably they have missed seeing their families and friends.  The visiting area we have created means that visitors do not have to actually come into the home itself, and have somewhere comfortable and private where they can chat with their loved ones.”

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