Covid has put my 97-year-old mum's birthday party on ice (with Baileys) – Steve Cardownie

My mother, Jenny, reached the grand old age of 97 on Halloween and, given that she is subject to Covid -19 rules in her nursing home, the family was unable to celebrate with a wee birthday party as we have always done.

Care homes have introduced new protocols about visiting amid the Covid pandemic (Picture: John Devlin)

Over the years, we have held the party in the communal room of the home with all residents invited to come along for a sing-song to the tunes being played by an accordionist.

The assembled group, fuelled by a couple of glasses of Baileys usually belt out auld favourites for a couple of hours whilst also wolfing down birthday cake and sandwiches.

But, alas, not this year as the home introduced new rules regarding visiting protocols and human contact was ruled out.

There is no doubt that such conditions are having a devastating impact on some families who have not been allowed to be close to their loved ones since early spring and as a consequence residents of homes have seen their quality of life plummet.

This situation might well change soon as the government appears to be considering some loosening of the rules over Christmas and, with a number of effective Covid-19 vaccines now on the horizon, there is a real possibility that matters may go back to as near normal as possible in the next few months.

“Que sera sera” but I fervently hope that I will be having another wee birthday party next year to celebrate my mother’s 98th. Baileys Irish Cream included of course!

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