A FAMILY of care workers who were separated due to the coronavirus pandemic have been reunited at a care village in Crewe.

During the emotional meeting Judith Slater, a resident at Belong in Brookhouse Drive, was told the happy news that three generations will soon become four by granddaughter, Ellie, who is expecting her first child next year.

Ellie Davies, a healthcare assistant at Macclesfield District General Hospital, had been waiting over three months to tell Judith the news in person. And she was able to do so when alongside her mum, Yvonne Davies, a former nurse, she was among the first relatives returning to Belong Crewe when socially-distanced garden visits were introduced.

Ellie recalled: "Grandma was absolutely delighted and couldn't stop smiling and talking about it. She is very family orientated and loves spending time with all of her grandchildren, so this will mean the world to her."

Judith, 81, who has lived in Cheshire all her life, was a draftswoman before spending 25 years as a healthcare assistant at Victoria Infirmary in Northwich. When not working she liked gardening and was an accomplished horsewoman in her younger years, exercising races horses at Tarporley.

The family were paying daily visits to see Judith, who is affected by Lewy Bodies Dementia, after she moved into Belong at the end of 2019.

But they were left heartbroken when the lockdown meant this was no longer possible. Recognising how difficult this time apart was for them, care staff made sure the family were able to skype and call each other every day as well as organising car park visits so Judith could see her three daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from her balcony.

General Manager at Belong Crewe, Kathryn Farmer, said: "COVID-19 has had a huge impact on everybody.

"But one story that's not much talked about is how it's affected people with dementia.

"Being away from their family has been very tough for our residents, and we've worked hard to ensure that their wellbeing and safety have been prioritised in equal measures.

"Whether that's through activities or finding innovative ways for customers to keep connected with the outside world and their loved ones."

The village has put a number of strict measures in place to enable relative visits to resume as safely as possible in its garden spaces, including the provision of PPE on arrival and deep cleaning of areas.

Yvonne said: "As a really close family we've all struggled being away from mum, so it was wonderful to be reunited with her again, especially when Ellie came bearing such exciting news.

"Just being able to look her in the eyes and tell her how much we love her has made all the difference and I can tell her mental health is much better as a result.

"My sisters, Suzanne and Sarah, and I can't praise Belong enough for everything they have done over the last few months, from making sure we all get to see mum every week to always being there if we have any concerns."