A SWINDON care home is allowing carers to use some of its rooms.

Ridgeway Rise staff designated 13 single ensuite bedrooms to support domiciliary care agencies' clients and those living at retirement housing.

Kinga Dabrowska said: "We appreciate that due to the government guidelines regarding self-isolation and the pressure put onto key workers, companies offering home care might come across clients who would be apprehensive to continue with receiving care from carers who travel from one person to another.

"Family carers might feel overwhelmed and scared of being a possible source of infection. Contracted caregivers might need to reduce their working hours, creating a shortage of human resources to cover all care calls.

"Therefore, we extended our support by offering short, residential care stay packages. We have been flooded with reassuring messages sent via social media boosting our morale and comforting our residents."

Some people have offered to move in and assist for a couple of days if staff fall ill. Schoolchildren have sent in cards, drawings and activity ideas.