To mark the fifth anniversary of the national Covid lockdown, one care worker at the heart of it has recorded a personal diary, reflecting on the challenges faced by care teams, residents and their families.

Lisa Toogood, activities coordinator at Parklands and Burnbank care homes in Buckie, Banffshire, recalls the moment lockdown began: “The day Parklands and Burnbank closed the doors to family, friends and the community is a memory I will never forget. Turning family members away that afternoon broke our hearts.”

For staff, the pressure was immense, balancing the safety of residents with their own fears for their families. She says: “There was a huge stress on all staff to keep everyone safe and protected. PPE played a vital role in protecting residents and staff. Communication became difficult. Staff had to ensure they spoke clearly to ensure residents understood them. The scary thought of taking Covid home to our family or taking it into the home and putting our residents at risk was very frightening.”

With the homes in lockdown, Lisa and her colleagues found creative ways to support residents and keep spirits high. “We as a team had to think out of the box and bring the outdoor activity into the home, she recalls. “We joined homes around Scotland and England for virtual quizzes and bingo, fitness classes online and through the windows, themed evening events of residents’ choices, daily activities, keeping in contact through window visits and technology. It all felt very surreal and sometimes still does.”

When restrictions finally eased, the sense of joy and relief was overwhelming. “When restrictions eased and we were able to see family and friends outside through social distancing, this was a fantastic feeling,” she remembers. “We decided to have an outdoor mini festival in the grounds with live music, games for the kids and a barbecue. Staff stood back, taking it all in and watching residents having a great time with friends and loved ones. It made us all very emotional.”

Buckie’s community spirit helped the team through the darkest of days, she says. “We couldn’t have thanked family, friends and the community enough for the support shown through these hard and testing times. It gave us all the boost we needed at the time for us to deliver the best we could and keep everyone’s spirits high. We were all in it together and got through it with each other’s support.”