Mumsnet users share how they have been reuniting with their family with McCarthy & Stone

[YanaMumsnet]

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For many of us, not spending quality time with our families and loved ones was one of the most difficult things to accept during lockdown. With social distancing measures easing, we can now spend some precious moments with our families, even if a few metres apart. From a barbecue in the garden, to virtual birthday parties for those still shielding, most of us have a story of reconnecting with family and loved ones during these challenging times.

With that in mind, McCarthy & Stone Retirement Homes want to hear more about your story of reuniting with your family and loved ones during lockdown and beyond.

Here’s what they have to say: “A McCarthy & Stone apartment provides much more than a lovely home. It gives access to a vibrant, caring and supportive community of friends and neighbours, and as recent events have shown, nothing is more important.
We couldn’t be prouder of the way our homeowners have stepped up to support each other during this challenging period.
We recently surveyed 95 friends and family of McCarthy & Stone homeowners. Of those who gave an opinion 86% of people felt their friends/family were safe or extremely safe.
The already strong community spirit has flourished. Despite the restrictions, we’ve seen our homeowners adapt to new ways of socialising, with everything from exercise classes to gin nights — as well as innovative ways to celebrate things like anniversaries, birthdays and VE day. Meanwhile 400 of our staff volunteered to help with shopping and other essentials in our Buddy scheme. As a result we’ve been inundated with moving messages of thanks.

So we are asking you how have you reunited, or are planning to reunite with your family? What about reuniting with family members who might live in retirement homes? How have you been taking care of your older loved ones and how are you supporting them through the lockdown? What are your tips for staying connected to your loved ones while apart? Any funny stories of family reunions you want to share?

Whatever your story with your family reunions during lockdown, post on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for a store (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
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My MIL moved into her Mc Carthy & Stone retirement property just 3 weeks ago and is loving it. She viewed the property a couple of weeks after Christmas and put her house up for sale. Things all started happening very quickly and she was due to exchange...then lockdown happened and the brakes went on. We didn't want her to lose her buyer, so my husband and his brother got things back on track as soon as they were able - so her house has sold and she is now living in her new 2 bed flat.

We have been so impressed with Mc Carthy & Stone, they have really welcomed her into their community and looked after her so well, especially during her first week, when she had to self-quarantine in her new home for 7 days. She has started to make friends at her new home, and even though the shared facilities like the Bistro and lounge are reduced at the moment, staff and residents are friendly and caring towards her. At the weekend, they got residents together for a quiz and a picnic with a few glasses of wine.
My MIL now lives just a 5 minute walk across the park that is outside our house, so we are much closer to her and the children can even walk over and chat to her at her balcony. She enjoys taking a daily walk through the park and sometimes drops by our house where she sits on our patio and has a cuppa. Last weekend, we shared a bottle of bubbly with her, to celebrate her moving into her new home and being nearer to family.
We can now meet her in the park, have her over at our home and in time, visit her in her new home. I have been getting her shopping for her each week and we all feel so happy that she is happy and settled in her new home.

Park picnics and lots and lots of waving.

Also started to write "proper" letters again to keep in touch - and it's been lovely receiving the return post and catching up with news that way.

We meet up socially distances with family in the garden or for a walk in our local parks. Lots of facetime conversations though.

We've had zoom calls with grandparents and visits through the window - i.e. staying apart but speaking on the phone whilst they visit at the window. Quite emotional at times being so close and yet so far but can't risk mingling yet due to health conditions.

We've seen parents a lot, and friends too, outdoors where possible with friends , we've been getting takeaways and eating outdoors it's been absolutely fine and good fun

I went kayaking with my extended family at the weekend. You can't really get more socially distanced than that, especially as some of us are more competitive than others! We also had a BBQ and a picnic on the - very windy and empty - beach. It's been great to see everyone.

We've been having lots of picnics, bbqs and walks. We've been so lucky that at least we've had reasonable good weather and some amazing weather.

Still only phone calls as too far to travel under present circumstances for us and them.

nothing big, just meeting up (inside) and having a coffee and a chat, it sounds like a small thing but is hugely anticipated!

Well it’s been lovely. My parent live way up north in Scotland and been desperate to see them. So my partner and I travelled up last week and had a lovely catch up with them, even though it was at arms length sadly. Plan to go back up myself to spend another week with them very soon, given we hadn’t seen them since February. Was great to sample my mums home bakes again and my dads wine of course . I hope other members have enjoyed this over the last few weeks and many more to come! Stay safe all

we had a picnic in our local park with my daughters and grandchildren. it was great fun we could eat what we wanted as we did our own individual picnics, we kept our picnic blankets apart as required as well as ourselves but we could still chat. it was so nice to be able to catch up on things in the family and our world.
we enjoyed ourselves so much we did it again for my birthday and my grandsons birthday which we share the date. we have said we will definitely have at least one more picnic before school starts!

Our family lives abroad, so we communicate via FaceTime or Facebook Messenger.

BBQ in the garden over a blazing fire pit and some wine!

I don’t really have any family of my own except my sons one who lives at home and one who’s abroad (China) so our communication has really not changed.

But my partners grandson had a birthday and we were all invited there and it was so lovely and enjoyable being in the same place altogether and not on zoom, by text or standing 2 metres away - his granddaughters all sneaked hugs with me tho and it just warms your heart the physical touch that shows love ( the grandsons high fived and fist pumped but that’s their way of showing love lol and shared chocolate with me).

We also have some elderly friends who had been donating and so we hadn’t been able to visit for over 3 months so when we visited them it was fab!! They had all posh biscuits ready and we’re so pleased to have (distanced) company although as we were leaving the lady called me into the kitchen and gave me a massive hug as she’d simply missed company too.

I am a hugger by nature and I shall never again take hugs and physical contact for granted again.

We’ve been taking trips out to open air places like the beach, big parks with my brother and his family so that the cousins can ‘play together’ in a socially distant way. We’re all still keeping our distance but trying to keep a vague sense of normality for the kids who are 2,3 and 6.

We've been going to my mum & dads with groceries & taking our own picnic & flask of tea. Granny had a convulted system of placing her home baked goodies on a central plate that we accessed when she retreated. Moved a summer seat to the other side of the drive from the old folk & it really helped us on the sunny days 😁

I am over that!

Let me.explain.

My parents out me in care at 6 months old.

My mother buggered off completely and took away my brother, at 5.

My father lied to me all my life. He never bothered with me. Oh his new wife n family, he loves them and they all love him, except me n my brother.

My social worker would spend weeks appealing to my dad to have me for a week. He'd phone me up and say sorry for missing my birthday.... We have the same day.

So, no I won't be contacting my dad, or brother (who blames me for him having to cope with a stepdad that would beat him, and he in turn did the same to his son) and my.mother is in the grave.

There's only one person for.me, and that's.my fiancée, and we live together. So I have no worries about contacting her!

Lots of zoom and facetime, but our 12 year old ds and 7 year old dd have missed their grandad who is 93 and shielding, so lots of standing on his front lawn so he can talk to them out the window!

Talked to my family online and sometimes on the phone. I used more online contact with them and spoke to them every day. Felt closer to them all during lockdown.

I've done a few care packages. It's exciting filling them and exciting getting a video or phone call once received. My mum especially loves the photos of the grandchildren.

Hi

NicetomeetyouafterviewingyourprofileiamLucas Jack,fromjakartaindonesia,

ihaveaprojectdiscussionwithyoupleaseemailmeon:(lucasstella47 @ gmail.com)

It's been a mixture of Facetime, What'sApp and Zoom.

Although frustrating, I am very grateful for technology.

We have been doing a lot of Facetiming and messaging since lockdown. Haven't been close physically to any family members who are not in my household yet.

I am so grateful for mobile phones and the internet. Online shopping is also wonderful - I was able to order a cream tea to be delivered to my parents who live a long way from us, so they knew we were thinking of them.

My mum very sensibly moved in with my sisters family pre lockdown, so it's been lovely for me to know that she has been safe throughout.
I visit a McCarthy and Stone development to see patients and whilst it is a beautiful complex, I had to silently snigger at the shrine to Boris that the residents had set up in the foyer!! Seriously! Complete with big photo, candle, bunting, a union Jack and a handmade sign "God Bless our Leader.