'Cuddle curtain' used during the COVID-19 pandemic

In May 2020, a video of a man from Stratford-upon-Avon giving his grandmother a hug using a screen cobbled together from a shower curtain and disposable gloves exploded on social media. The idea soon caught on as a means of permitting physical contact between people living in different households amid social distancing regulations, with similar creations popping up around the world.

This example was designed and made by Sanders Sails, a family-run marine business based in Lymington in the New Forest. The bespoke screen was created to fit a conservatory opening at Eboracum House care home near Barnsley, enabling residents to embrace their families without risk of transmitting the virus. The first person to use it was centenarian Bert Vincent on 16 December 2020.

Bert's daughter, Chris, recalled: 'When the curtain arrived some of the staff were there taking photos. I hugged my Dad for the first time in many months. I was crying, the staff were crying, and Dad was laughing. It was such a wonderful moment for everyone.'

‘Cuddle curtains’ were a relatively late addition to Sanders Sails’ voluntary efforts to support frontline services during the pandemic. In March 2020 the team began producing adapted sailbags for health workers to transport their scrubs home to be washed between shifts. Manging director Peter Sanders went on to lead a combined drive by New Forest marine companies to become the main supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) gowns to Southampton General Hospital. After donating PPE to a local care home, Peter was asked if he could design them a reusable, COVID-safe curtain.

To allow for cleaning, Peter and his staff created the screen in two parts; a top section using clear window material used for yacht spray hoods and a detachable lower section made from a washable laminated polyester used in surgical gowns. Each curtain had six arm holes to accommodate cuddling from different heights, including a seated position.

Sanders Sails were soon receiving requests from further afield. Emyvale Care, a group of five homes in South and West Yorkshire, had experimented with ‘shield curtains’ bought online but found them flimsy and unfit for purpose. Their search led them to Peter’s company, who produced custom curtains for Eboracum House and another of Emyvale’s homes in Rotherham.

Throughout the pandemic, care homes juggled the need to protect residents from infection against the detrimental impact of social isolation and loneliness. Many came up with resourceful means of facilitating visits for friends and family, ranging from drive-through sessions to enclosed visiting pods and barriers. Such initiatives were far from universal, however, being hampered by staff shortages, ambiguous guidance and limited resources.

In May 2020, a video of a man from Stratford-upon-Avon giving his grandmother a hug using a screen cobbled together from a shower curtain and disposable gloves exploded on social media. The idea soon caught on as a means of permitting physical contact between people living in different households amid social distancing regulations, with similar creations popping up around the world.

This example was designed and made by Sanders Sails, a family-run marine business based in Lymington in the New Forest. The bespoke screen was created to fit a conservatory opening at Eboracum House care home near Barnsley, enabling residents to embrace their families without risk of transmitting the virus. The first person to use it was centenarian Bert Vincent on 16 December 2020.

Bert's daughter, Chris, recalled: 'When the curtain arrived some of the staff were there taking photos. I hugged my Dad for the first time in many months. I was crying, the staff were crying, and Dad was laughing. It was such a wonderful moment for everyone.'

‘Cuddle curtains’ were a relatively late addition to Sanders Sails’ voluntary efforts to support frontline services during the pandemic. In March 2020 the team began producing adapted sailbags for health workers to transport their scrubs home to be washed between shifts. Manging director Peter Sanders went on to lead a combined drive by New Forest marine companies to become the main supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) gowns to Southampton General Hospital. After donating PPE to a local care home, Peter was asked if he could design them a reusable, COVID-safe curtain.

To allow for cleaning, Peter and his staff created the screen in two parts; a top section using clear window material used for yacht spray hoods and a detachable lower section made from a washable laminated polyester used in surgical gowns. Each curtain had six arm holes to accommodate cuddling from different heights, including a seated position.

Sanders Sails were soon receiving requests from further afield. Emyvale Care, a group of five homes in South and West Yorkshire, had experimented with ‘shield curtains’ bought online but found them flimsy and unfit for purpose. Their search led them to Peter’s company, who produced custom curtains for Eboracum House and another of Emyvale’s homes in Rotherham.

Throughout the pandemic, care homes juggled the need to protect residents from infection against the detrimental impact of social isolation and loneliness. Many came up with resourceful means of facilitating visits for friends and family, ranging from drive-through sessions to enclosed visiting pods and barriers. Such initiatives were far from universal, however, being hampered by staff shortages, ambiguous guidance and limited resources.