Since March, care homes across the country have been unable to welcome members of the public to tour their homes as they take every precaution to protect residents from the threat of Coronavirus.
One of Scotland’s leading providers of residential elderly and specialist care, Balhousie Care Group, has come up with a solution – inviting people into their homes through virtual tours. Led by home managers or other key members of the home teams, the tours enable people outside to venture inside the home.
The virtual tours are treated like an actual in-person tour, whether that’s for a prospective resident or a relative looking on behalf of a loved one. The camera has become the visitor.
The tours are being shared on the company’s website and across its various social media channels, opening its doors to as many people as possible.
This is part of a wider campaign from Balhousie, which has 26 care homes across the North East and Central Belt of Scotland, to help reassure and build confidence after what has been a challenging period for the care sector as a whole.
The virtual tours will offer prospective customers and the wider public an opportunity to see the exceptional care being provided in the care homes where residents have been shielding for over six months.
The videos also showcase how unique each home is, each with their own personality and flair, from nostalgic juke boxes at Balhousie Luncarty in Perthshire to vibrant wildlife themed wall decals at Balhousie Forth View in Methil.
Jill Kerr, Group Chief Executive at Balhousie Care Group, said:
“2020 has been a hugely challenging year for our residents, the teams working in our care homes and the care sector as a whole. Closing our doors to visitors has been essential in protecting our residents and staff from Coronavirus, but it has meant many people have not been able to see the many great things happening in our homes. The introduction of virtual tours will enable us to welcome people through our doors in a slightly different way.”
Here are a selection of tours to view: