had anyone's parents gone into a home to deal with the loneliness

[artisanparsnips]

DM is 81; on her own in a different part of the country to her three children. She is self-isolating and struggling. She's fit, but her memory is going a bit, and she was at the point of getting some kind of low key care, more for the company than anything else.

Would it make sense for her to go into a home for the duration, or even for a bit? There's a really lovely one near me - and she has money so could do that.

Not a 'home' but MIL went into sheltered accommodation to avoid being alone when FIL died. The residents have their own flats with kitchens so they live independently but there are wardens and communal activities like cards, bingo and so on and it's in a gated complex so no worries about cold callers. That might be an option for your DM if she is independent enough not to need the level of care offered in a care home.