Sheffield care home residents enjoy traditional treat during lockdown

Carers at Beechy Knoll Care Home, in Richmond, arranged for Beighton-based firm, Joe’s Ices, to visit on Tuesday, 26 May.

The care home, which has just over 30 residents, decided it would be the perfect treat to cheer both staff and residents up amid the doom and gloom of Covid-19.

As the van’s chimes rang out across the car park, residents of the site were invited to recollect any early memories of queuing up and enjoying a traditional ice cream in their youth.

Registered manager Marina Glaves said: “With everything that’s happening we just thought it would be really lovely to get an ice cream van for the residents.

“The residents certainly have been down because they haven’t been able to see their families but I have got to say we’ve had visitors to the windows – they’re social distancing and not coming into the building – and we’ve done loads of video calls, phone calls, and things like that.

“A lot of our residents have got dementia so they’re older so don’t understand the technology but most have managed to get used to it.”

Carer Adele Waller put out a Facebook appeal for help in bringing an ice cream van to Beechy Knoll after witnessing residents enjoying themselves in the bank holiday sun.

Ms Glaves explained: “On Monday the residents were outside in the lovely weather because we’ve got a big garden that’s secure and people were dancing, singing, and having a good time.

“They said ‘wouldn’t it be lovely if an ice cream van drove past’ and Adele said she’d try and get one to come so everybody could have an ice cream. After tea, she went to Asda to get ice creams – the residents had those but said it wasn’t like the real thing from an ice cream van so it’s great we’ve made it happen.”

The care home also used the visit to celebrate the birthday of its activity coordinator, Bridget Berwick, on May 26, as well as a resident who turned 86 on May 27.

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