A MUM and daughter were finally allowed to hold hands after Covid-19 restrictions kept them apart for a year.

Freda Simpson, a resident at the Old Vicarage care home in Allithwaite, near Grange, was ecstatic to welcome her daughter Pat Kelsall to the home following recent easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

The 98-year-old is permitted two nominated visitors; her daughter and son-in-law Alan Kelsall.

“It was so lovely to see them both, I’d be happy for them to visit at any time, even midnight,” said Ms Simpson, who has been a resident at the Old Vicarage since March 2018.

“Before, when Pat was able to visit, we were blocked by a screen or she was behind a window so it’s wonderful to sit next to her and hold her hand.”

Mrs Kelsall lives close to the home and prior to the pandemic would visit her mum three times a week.

“I’m just so pleased to be able to visit mum regularly again,” she said.

“We’ve missed popping in to see her and chatting to the staff and other residents.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can start to take mum out and about again.

“She always loved going for a coffee in Grange and popping into a gift shop for a browse.

“It’s been over a year since we’ve been able to do that together."

Last year, the care home organised window visits and also built a visitor cabin that allowed social distanced visits either side of a screen.

Mrs Kelsall said: “Throughout the pandemic I’ve been impressed with how the management at the Old Vicarage have taken prompt action every step of the way to keep all the residents safe.All of the staff are amazing.

"Kamal has done a brilliant job and I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s done.

"When we couldn’t visit, he always kept us updated on how mum was doing.

“When I had my first visit with mum in the visitor cabin, she struggled to hear me from behind the screen. I mentioned it to Kamal and on the next visit he had installed a speaker system, so that mum could hear me better."

Kamal Siddiqi, business manager at the Old Vicarage, added: “It’s lovely to see family members back inside the home again.

“We’re just looking forward to the day when we can welcome the community back to the home."