Mansfield care home using innovative 'bubble' to bring families together

Baily House, which cares for 66 older adults, has built a visiting pod which is accessible from the outside of the care home where relatives can sit in warmth and comfort and see their loved ones face to face through a clear screen.

The pod, known as the ‘Baily Bubble’, cost just £650 to build and the home is already working on building a second pod which it hopes to have ready by mid-December.

Ashley Baird, manager at Baily House, said: “We read the government guidance about care home visits on the Monday and had the visiting pod all built by the Thursday.

Paul Haywood was the first visitor to use the pod to see his grandma Joan Coles face to face for the first time since the beginning of this year.

Paul said: “Being apart from my grandma for 10 months has been very hard, especially with her being 94 and having dementia.

"When Baily House put their Baily Bubble in place it felt like Christmas, new year and birthdays all rolled into on.

"It was very emotional meeting back up with my grandma after all this time but was I was so grateful, we both were.

"I cannot thank the staff at Baily House enough.

"Let’s hope other care homes can do the same.”

Coun Tony Harper, chairman of adult social care and health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It’s fantastic to hear of innovative ways care homes are helping residents and relatives be together again after such a difficult time apart.”