Life is challenging in our care and nursing homes.

The staff are key workers whose lives can be in danger but they do not get the acclaim of NHS doctors and nurses.

For the residents visitors were a highlight of their day, but now the care and nursing homes are closed to visitors as part of the lockdown.

This is very disappointing for residents and can be stressful for families.

"My mum Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia five years ago," said John Ratcliff who discovered, produced and managed a-ha, the 1980s Norwegian pop group who sold 80 million records.

"Living in Wells meant I was 240 miles away so travelling to see her became even more difficult when I had two heart attacks and then open heart surgery two years ago.

"Shortly after her diagnosis she needed to go into a care home for the appropriate 24-hour treatment.

"Then she had one fall after another and had to move into a specialist nursing home where she is today.

"She doesn't know anyone anymore, even her immediate family, and it is difficult knowing that from now on, with the lockdown, she is even more isolated than ever.

"My brother and his family live close by and they were regular visitors but they too are desperate with the knowledge that she is now living with 'strangers', her memory loss being absolute.

"We can do nothing but listen to the daily news that reports so few facts about the pandemic and its effect on social and nursing care.

"We can only wonder and pray that she is at least comfortable and dreaming of the good old days."

As a young woman Barbara drove an ambulance during the Second World War.

• Wells Dementia Action Alliance and the Wells Coronavirus Network are asking their volunteers and their families if they would like to send letters, postcards or pictures to care homes.