Charitable rest homes hit by the Covid-19 pandemic have received a welcome cash injection totalling $200,000.

The donation to four rest homes was made by the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association, and will be used to buy medical equipment and personal care products.

The Packwood Home, the Matilda Smith-Williams Seniors Residence, Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home, and the Lorraine Rest Home each received $50,000.

A spokeswoman for the LCCA said that the pandemic had hit rest homes severely in the last two years resulting in a loss of income and increased costs.

The losses were primarily due to the untimely deaths of residents, the inability to admit new residents due to Government Covid-19 protocols, and the inability to effectively fundraise during that time.

Higher expenses resulted mostly from additional staffing cost, with many full-time staff having to quarantine, the purchase of PPE and enhanced cleaning procedures.

Shaun Reape, chairman of the LCCA, said: “Our board realises that times are difficult in many areas of the community and the charitable rest homes have not been immune.

“We saw it most fitting to help, especially as it is our charity’s 90th year, having been founded by Lady Cubitt in 1932 in response to her finding many elderly people in distress at that time.

“In the upcoming weeks we will be launching our 2022 annual appeal.

“We hope the community will support us so that we may continue with this type of help and improving and increasing our current programmes.

“We aim to help Bermuda’s residents with basic needs when it matters most.”

Accepting the donation on behalf of all four homes, April Augustus of Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home, said: “We are extremely thankful to the LCCA for their donations.

“It’s no secret that times have been hard, and the funds will help us out tremendously and ensure that the quality of care for our residents does not suffer.”