Now (with the new measures) we can’t offer that much. Whilst we can’t visit, we can chat over the phone. I visit a couple who need the support and the chance to chat. They’re alone. Mr Fotis and his wife have a few medical issues.

It’s been 24 years since my husband died, and I understand the loneliness. It doesn’t matter if you have wonderful children and people around you, but loneliness is loneliness.

There’s only so much watching tv and trying to keep busy can do. The chance to chat to someone and swap stories is hugely important and valuable.

I arrived in Australia alone, without my parents when I was 17 years old. I came to visit my brother and I decided to stay. I wanted to find someone I could chat with and that we could understand each other.  So at Fronditha Care, I got paired with Elektra, a resident on the first floor. We clicked straight away. The age gap isn’t an issue, and I feel I can tell her anything. She is an amazing person that I don’t think I will find again.

During the seven weeks of lockdown when I couldn’t visit, I managed to facetime with Elektra with the help of one of the PCAs. We were able to speak, and she told me “I love you and I miss you.” She actually said she missed my flowers, because every time I would visit I would pick some flowers from my garden. I said to her I will organise a time to come and I’ll bring you some. I was able to see her last week, and I brought her some roses and her eyes lit up and she said “I love you so much”.

You don’t give up, and you don’t stop what you need to do – you just do it in a different way.

Ok, we can’t visit, but that doesn’t mean we forget them.

I really like them.

I’ve brought them toilet paper (that was in the beginning of the lockdown) and paper towels. Sometimes she craves different things, so she had cravings for pitta one day and she asked, can you go get me one? And I said alright.

I get more out of it than they do. It makes you feel needed, and they make you feel special. For an able-bodied person to give an hour a week or two hours a week, it’s really nothing.

For 12 and a half years, I’ve been going every day so I’ve gotten used to seeing them and I’ve missed them dearly over this COVID19 lockdown period.

I like what I do and I do it because I like it.

I know how to use Skype and Facebook and all those programs for communication, so I call via Skype every second day.

When the residents saw me on the ipad, they were so happy. Especially one resident, Michael, his smile reached up to his ears he was so happy. I’ve spoken to everyone. They seemed to enjoy it but I also got a lot out of it.

They keep saying, “When are you going to come back and visit?”. I’ve missed them a lot.

I usually share jokes and I feel part of the family. I would visit my wife there until she passed every single day. They know me.

I like to contribute. I don’t have much interest in going to the cafenio so I prefer to go there and share some jokes and make them happy.

They’re happy and I’m happy. It’s my pleasure to keep them company. I see them as my family.