The owner of a nursing homes in Co Meath says some residents have not been able to say "that final goodbye" to their families.

Lucy Flynn Grillet is the owner of Millbury Nursing Home in Navan.

A number of people living in the home have passed away since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

She told Newstalk Breakfast it has been a very difficult situation.

"From the very first moment that we were told we had residents that tested positive I guess life changed dramatically within our lovely nursing home.

"Certainly there was the fear of the unknown, and we really were quite surprised at how quickly this virus spread.

"It's a very transmittable virus, and the real danger that it posed to my very frail, elderly, vulnerable residents."

"Communication was vital - we had to very gently and very sensitively and with great respect and dignity for our residents explain the situation because overnight really we changed into a different outfit".

"Our PPE equipment, which I was very grateful to have on standby... we suddenly would arrive at their bedside dressed in all this equipment.

"And it was very difficult for them to comprehend - we would have many residents with dementia and different stages of dementia.

"It was scary, very frightening for them - and you could see that some could understand and had a grasp of what you were trying to tell them and more you knew hadn't absorbed the information that was coming".

She says the worst aspect is restrictions on visiting families.

"The worst part of this pandemic really is this restrictions on visiting and not being able to see your loved ones - only really through the windows.

"It's devastating and it's so sad to see.

"In particular... where you have a loved one that is approaching end of life.

"It is our culture that families are at the bedside, they play a huge role in being there with their loved ones.

"Holding their hands, praying with them, being with them that is so, so important - that final goodbye.

"And the fact that you cannot do that: that to me is just absolutely heartbreaking".