What a trying and testing time the last year has been. Even though it has been so difficult for everyone, Abbey Care Direct Ltd has a great team of committed staff. We are very proud of all the outstanding efforts they have made, again and again, not only within Sabrina House, but also out in the Community with our many clients.

A team of amazing people who have carried on working during the pandemic, adhering strictly to the Government guidelines and putting the needs of others above their own. A huge amount of thanks is due to them all.

Thanks is also due to many members of the community for their very kind donations, many people made masks for our carers at the start of the pandemic, we also received visors and masks from other organisations, who were also kind enough to deliver them to us. Our carers were provided with scrub bags to transport their uniforms to and from home and most days we received an uplifting message, either in the post or via social media. Meole Brace Primary School provided Sabrina House with a special banner to raise the residents spirits, which was proudly displayed outside.

Masks were not the only donations, our thanks to local take away firms for supplying several tasty meals for our residents, other businesses supplied an endless number of Easter eggs and some wonderful Christmas goody bags.

Amazingly, even during the most difficult of years, plenty of celebrations and activities have still taken place. In March 2020 we achieved a Five Star food hygiene rating, consistently high standards showing through again, a very pleasing result.

Later in the year we had a glorious V.E. Garden party, a Wimbledon Strawberry Tea, and a recreation – albeit on a smaller scale, of the Shrewsbury Flower show. Out in the community we gifted all our clients a cheery mug, nothing beats a cup of tea!! Lots of smiling faces from them all.

As Autumn and Winter approached, more activities such as Pumpkin carving, Tie Dye T-shirts and of course Remembrance Sunday took place. Christmas did happen, nothing was going to stop that! Santa’s helpers out in the community delivered gifts and delighted our clients on Christmas Jumper Day, by really entering the spirit of things and wearing some fantastic creations. In Sabrina House, a socially distanced Carol Concert took place, with a choir singing beautifully in the garden for our residents, listening in the lounge through the patio doors!

With the start of the New Year came a visit from the marvellous NHS team from South Hermitage Medical Centre to administer the first dose of the Covid vaccine to our residents. We can’t thank them enough, our carers also received invitations to have the vaccine, it was uplifting to know progress was being made.

By March 2021, following strict Government guidelines, the first few visitors were allowed to see loved ones again. A booking service is now in place in Sabrina House and we look forward to welcoming people once again. 100% of our carers have now received both vaccines!