Various care homes across South and North Lanarkshire celebrated the season, in line with all safety guidance, with a series of events.
These included McClymont House in Lanark, David Walker Gardens in Rutherglen and Parksprings care home in Motherwell.
The latter home reflected the overall spirit of the fiendish festivities as residents had spent days preparing pumpkins, with witches, monsters and bats brilliantly carved into the ghoulish gallery.
“It’s well publicised that COVID-19 posed very real challenges for care homes over the last year or so. Parksprings has been no different,” explained the home’s activities coordinator, Rosie Brennan.
“But events like this show the unique bond between fellow residents and staff – and put the mutual support into sharp focus. Staff are regularly encouraged and take comfort from the kind words and actions of those in our care. Compassion is very much a two-way street. 
“The Halloween season has provided the home a chance celebrate those links - and add a heady dose of creativity into the potent mix!”
Lanarkshire’s multiagency Care Home Staff Wellbeing Group said that sentiment was reflective of similar events across the care home sector.
The group is made up of representatives from care homes themselves, North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships, NHS Lanarkshire and Scottish Care. Its aim is to ensure staff are supported, from simple wellbeing provision to those who require mental health assessment and intervention.
Dr Susan Ross, consultant clinical psychologist and co-chair of the group, said: “First and foremost our deepest sympathies and condolences are with all those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.
“We also know the impact of COVID continues to be deeply felt by our colleagues working in the front line of care homes too. 
Dr Ross added: “We have a range of supports in place for care home staff if they need it. 
“But we also know staff being there for each other has been – and is – very effective and powerful. That sentiment also applies to the support the residents provide each other and the staff, as Rosie has outlined.
“Events like this can only consolidate these really important human bonds. 
“On behalf of the wellbeing group I’d also like to offer my congratulations to all involved for their frighteningly brilliant carving talents!” 
 
More information on the work of the multi-agency care home wellbeing group can be found at this link: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/pulse-special-focus-on-care-home-wellbeing-group/