Frontline workers keep up the fight against the virus

Care homes and community workers are pulling together now more than ever to support the people they work with.

Across North Yorkshire, there are hundreds of key workers putting in hours every day to vital jobs to keep those around them safe and well.

More than 17,000 people work in the care sector in North Yorkshire alone. In addition, there are many family carers who are providing additional support to loved ones at this time.

North Yorkshire County Council employs more than 1,800 frontline care staff and it is highlighting the valuable work that they do.

Jemma Askew is the registered manager of 5 Whitby Road elderly persons’ home in Pickering.

For Jemma and her staff, the happiness of the 36 residents come first, which is why they’ve extended their vigilance measures right into their own personal lives to ensure the whole home doesn’t have to go into lockdown.

Jemma said: “We’ve taken it seriously from day one.

“The staff on shift in the home always remain vigilant with each other and pull each other up if someone is about to get too close. The only other way to do it is to put the residents on complete lockdown, which we know we couldn’t do.

“Residents need to sit and talk to each other, look at pictures, share stories – to take that away from them at this time of life, you can’t take that away from them. We are like one big family, that’s how we see it. For our residents, we want to keep it business as usual as far as they are concerned.

“Families still come and visit – it’s just through the window instead of coming inside.”

Jemma added there are some care situations where social distancing can’t be implemented – for example, if a resident needs lifting or moving – but their efforts in other areas have kept them safe and virus-free so far.

And although the job is difficult at times, Jemma added the community spirit and appreciation the public have shown has lifted them up.

She said: “Our hands were so dry because we have to wash them all the time, so someone gave us some mini hand creams to help.

“We’ve had flowers and fruit baskets delivered. The community spirit has been great – it’s lifted us up.”