Six Carmelite nuns have isolated themselves inside a care home in the Italian town of Castel del Monte, in order to look after the elderly residents who live there.

"We voluntarily chose to stay because they need us," Madre Rocio, one of the nuns, told CNN. "Like this, we are also close to God by helping who can't help themselves."

Carmelite nuns are a contemplative order, which means they are devoted to prayer rather than works, but this group is semi-cloistered, which means they are allowed to go outside.

The six nuns, who are originally from Mexico, began helping out in the retirement home 15 years ago.

The nuns decided to stay and look after their elderly charges in isolation. Courtesy Madre Rocio

While the Italian government has imposed a national mandatory quarantine, little has changed for the Carmelites of Castel del Monte.

"We have not had much need to go out, thank God the municipality brings us everything in this period of quarantine," said Madre Rocio. "Now that we are required to stay inside by the government, we are closer even to who we assist."

Madre Rocio described how the nuns eat and play cards with the elderly residents of the home.

The town of Castel del Monte, in the mountains of Abruzzo, has welcomed dozens of refugees, and today has a population of 449, including 115 people who originally hail from 25 different countries.