Forum Topic

Helping the elderly - Coronavirus - community response?

If you believe the latest leaks, there's a likelihood that over 70s may be asked to isolate themselves totally for an extended period in order to protect themselves. I guess the theory being that those able to cope better with infection will get it, recover and acquire immunity so that when the next flu season comes around, this is far less virulent and there are far less carriers.Whatever your politics - and don't debate them on this post please - this will leave a lot of our neighbours vulnerable and very isolated, especially if they're without family.We can all assist with those, identifying the ones on our street and offering assistance with shopping, medical supplies etc etc.  Feel it would be a good idea to have a co-ordinated community response on this.  Anyone interested in coming together and brainstorming something? Email me directly nmoulding@aol.com

Neil Moulding ● 2277d45 Comments

Yes, there have been warnings from Neighbourhood Watch about people being asked for money or their debit/credit card upfront in exchange for thrir groceries.

Philippa Bond ● 2273d

I agree with you Michael, 1000% (no, no typing mistake).  For all good intentioned offers, there will always be some people with ulterior motives.  And phishing is ripe!  Please, please, do be careful!   It is heartbreaking that people post on the sites with the best intentions of providing honest help, but these are "hijacked" or hacked by dubious characters.   It is a horrible thing to say, let alone think.  But we must be realistic too!  Take care!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2274d

I notice Johnson didn't actually say no to an extension, he just made  a comment about legislation being done (or something like that) and of course legislation can be changed. However, he's got a deadline of end June to have an outline deal or extend, and I can't see the EU putting too much effort into negotiations at the moment; every one's worrying about COVID-19. I suspect the UK government is too busy catching up with it slow action on the virus to focus on how they're going to handle Brexit  negotiations and explain any U turns. Unlike COVID-19 they can't put it down to better understanding of the science. One suspects if car manufacturers halt production in the UK it may not resume in a post COVID, post Brexit  world, and if there's no agreement around data privacy equivalence in the UK post 2020 that destroys his dream of high tech post Brexit ... so many things to think about ...

Michael Ixer ● 2274d

Exactly. This is an open ended crisis.  So let’s push the final exit date forward. It will save the economy from unnecessary stress on top of everything else.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2274d

Maybe he and we should worry about transition and the like after this emergency is over. I know that will upset those who want brexit rolled into this emergency but one thing at a  time eh?.

Andy Pike ● 2274d

Apparently some of the misinformation on social media has been generated by “malign state actors”, ie the Russians. They never waste an opportunity.  Meanwhile the pound is now lower than in the days following the referendum.  This is an ever-compounding disaster and Johnson today insisted that there are still no plans to extend the transition period. That is simply unsustainable given the massive hit to the economy we have already suffered and the known downsides of an exit with minimal trade agreements in place.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2274d

Sadly, as I thought, the fraudsters and thieves have been quick off the mark ...https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/coronavirus-update-scam-uk-thieves-shopping-elderly-robbers-action-fraud-a9408731.htmlThe cyber criminals are also seeing it as an opportunity to launch phishing campaigns ...https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-online-scams-coronavirus-phishing-scams.html
and aged maliciouly targeting hospitals with ransomeware:https://www.zdnet.com/article/czech-hospital-hit-by-cyber-attack-while-in-the-midst-of-a-covid-19-outbreak/
I know it's in our nature to trust but be careful and cautious; just double check who's offering to help or sending that email, and stay safe at home and work - which may be the same now!Take care.

Michael Ixer ● 2274d

All Sainsburys

Lucille Grant ● 2274d

All Sainsbury's? Or just Werter Rd?

Caroline Whitehead ● 2274d

Caroline, Sainsburys are opening early tomorrow only atm.So are Morrisons and Iceland but we don't have them nearby obv.

Lucille Grant ● 2274d

I did cut the grass in the back garden on Friday, especially nice feeling after so much rain. I'm still going to the shops, but doesn't take long as hardly anything on the shelves. I will have to think what can I Paint.

Barbara Stevens ● 2274d

Yes you are right Barbara, now is the time to get down to doing all the things you have been putting off. I have a great deal of shredding to do for one thing.For me the worst thing is not being able to get out and do things for myself. My kind neighbours have offered to do shopping and the builder next door has offered face masks, but claustrophobia is already setting in. There seems to be a rumour that some shops may open early for 'oldies only' sessions which would be wonderful.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2275d

Just seen on Facebook, you can now do what you hadn't had time to. Just like the war rations, queuing, spend time with your children, helping other people, bringing the community together.Go for a walk, read a book, talk over the garden fence, paint the house. Everything your wife wanted, no pub, no football, you now have time to listen.

Barbara Stevens ● 2275d

I agree with you Michael

Lucille Grant ● 2275d

Neil. You're right to raise this. However, I'll be honest, I'm slightly wary of using a forum like this - and also Facebook - as an contact measns because of their openeness. My wife and I have registered with Nextdoor which has some restrictions in terms of areas messages cover and each local group has its own local moderator plus we've also been in contact with some elderly local friends/neighbours. I'm probably going to get criticised for saying this when everyone it trying to be helpful but I'd say people ought to be cautious about accepting help from people they don't know, or aren't known to someone they do know; I realise most people will be well meaning but there will always be a few who have different motives and will take advantage of the situation; just saying people should be cautious. (And perhaps I've worked in information security too long!)

Michael Ixer ● 2275d

Neil I'm sorry you're disappointed by the response on this forum but a pretty large number of people  who post are  over the age of 70 and we are meant to be  self isolating. Not sure  how we can help and I've been told by my daughter not to be crazy and stay put after I offered to drive down to Redhill with anything the family needed as they are all on lockdown :-(

Lucille Grant ● 2275d

I believe there are also some Facebook groups.  I read earlier that Ocado has over 8,000 people waiting to place orders with a wait of about 2 hours.  There is another group dropping notes through neighbours doors saying they can be contacted if need be.  We all need to decide where we are going to base ourselves and where we will be working from.

Philippa Bond ● 2275d

We have set up a WhatsApp group on Mascotte Road and there's 20 of us on there so far, already starting to help people.  It's not just the elderly and, believe me, if you rely wholly on online deliveries you're going to be in for a shock because a) those services are going to be quickly overwhelmed and b) their staff are also likely to become ill and unable to work, further exacerbating the situation.I'll say again, pretty disappointed by the responses on this forum.

Neil Moulding ● 2275d

I believe that www.milkandmore.co.uk  - your local traditional milkman where you can now order and pay online also have the facility to take orders to be delivered to your elderly parents etc.  So you can order for your elderly non-computer-literate family member directly yourself.  They deliver three times a week normally and you can order other shopping from the list of stuff they sell.  You need to check that they deliver in your area.

Philippa Bond ● 2276d

I think Neil can do his own thinking.  Just watching Dame Joan Bakewell who is self-isolating saying how important it is for those who can't go out/shouldn't go out to keep in touch online and by phone with friends and family and others who can do their chores for them.  She is seems to be grappling with skype.  More people with underlying problems will need help to stay in touch without going out and meeting people.  We've just spent time supporting overworked and stressed NHS staff trying to reduce the extra burden of dealing with this - something that should have been better prepared for.  We're still working but with reduced contacts.I too have heard that Next Door have some members making arrangements to get neighbours' shopping.  The foodbanks are also in need of food and toiletries.  We're moving to dealing online with the doctors' surgery.

Philippa Bond ● 2276d

I think Neil would like to know who you can get shopping for Philippa.

Barbara Stevens ● 2276d

There are also the Nextdoor/Neighbourhood group (not, I think, anything to do with Neighbourhood Net, which runs this group): https://nextdoor.co.uk/nearby_neighborhoods_prefs/

Richard Carter ● 2276d

And here

Jane Carter ● 2276d

Same here David!

Caroline Whitehead ● 2276d

"We're all in this together and we need to come together to help."I should guess that many on this website are more likely to be at risk of being in need of help, rather than being in a position to give help. Certainly I am willing to help, but I am likely very soon to be encouraged to self-isolate. This turns me into a potential needer of help, which I do not wish to be.

David Ainsworth ● 2276d

Neil, I applaud your initiative. In my road we have an informal support  group based on Neighbourhood Watch and I have heard that similar very localised groups are being set up, some street by street and some a little broader.  We need to look out for our more vulnerable neighbours and it does seem to be happening in quite a few places.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2276d

In Bath, where my daughter and family live, community support is being coordinated by B&NES 3SG (Bath and NE Somerset 3rd Sector Group)Wandsworth Council are the obvious body to organise / coordination of residents to support neighbours who may need a hand. https://mobile.twitter.com/banes3sg

John Cameron ● 2276d

It was too easy for the elderly to become isolated before this and if those who can go out now are expected to stay at home they will need to be able to contact people outside more easily to ask for help.We found that big button phones with speed dial numbers set up and laminated lists in large type of these numbers bluetacked to wall and desk worked well.  In-line volume increasers of the speech sound also worked.Many pharmacies know their regular patients and do deliver which online ones don't.  However there are often other items that people need from pharmacies which aren't on prescription.  This can cause problems as can methods of paying for them.  Something to think about.

Philippa Bond ● 2276d

While the replies to this post have been, ermmm, fascinating, this was a request to see if people would show some community spirit and be willing to group together to be able to support the isolated and elderly when the time comes, with food/medicine drops etc.  Only one person has come forward so far which is disappointing.We're all in this together and we need to come together to help.

Neil Moulding ● 2276d

We do have to change our routines snd keep on washing our hands well not just for ourselves but for everyone else.  Give a thought for the overworked hospital staff who have to look after everyone and their own families - and their own health..  We also need to up our use of IT.  Perhaps  some younger members of their families could teach their grandparents to text and use facetime,skype etc to reduce face to face actual contact etc.

Philippa Bond ● 2276d

I still think that people don't understand this virus.  There is not cure, so you may have a slight bit of cold or flue, but if you're really ill and get pneumonia, you may need to go to hospital and maybe ICU, where you will be put into an induced coma to they can put you on a breathing machine …. it's so more serious than many people realise.  At the moment, just people with health problems, but my niece, who is just about to give birth to her 3rd child...  Some poor woman this week was discovered to have the virus and her little newborn baby too.I think we should all take care.

Bunny Payne ● 2277d

I'm told a lot of elderly people go Wetherspoon pubs in the morning for a good value cooked breakfast, coffee with free refills and, I imagine, the company. 

Michael Ixer ● 2277d

Yes I suppose it was, sorry. I wouldn't go in a pub on my own unless I was meeting a friend.

Barbara Stevens ● 2277d

No Bruv is a very good cook, much better than me, he was making a casserole today.  He goes to the pub for a couple of pints every evening to meet his friends and they put the world to rights. 😸 He's not a big boozer but it's a social thing that he's not about to give up.

Sue Hammond ● 2277d

Just men eh!! Rather sexist Barbara 😊😊

Andy Pike ● 2277d

Pubs how awful I bet a lot of men go to a Weatherspoons to get a pint and a meal to save them cooking.

Barbara Stevens ● 2277d

Thanks Barbara. xx I am not in the imposed isolation age group but my Brother is and he's not at all happy about it. He heard the Government's proposals and called me this morning sounding very indignant. He's not worried about being told to stay indoors because he just won't, but he's very peed off that the pubs might be closed lol.😸

Sue Hammond ● 2277d

Good Luck Sue, I'm on Methertrexate for my R/Arthritus . I inject once a week, not always makes me sick.

Barbara Stevens ● 2277d

I don't think of myself as old (although others probably do🙀) but I am classed as vulnerable due to having MS and the drug treatment I have every 4 weeks. This is by infusion with an immunosuppressant drug which unfortunately compromises the immune system, therefore weakening the body's defences against infection. I shall be at Kingston hospital again tomorrow and apart from these appointments I am already virtually self isolating anyway. I grocery shop online and my shopping is just handed to me at the front door.Will this stop me catching Covid-19?  Who knows, but I'm trying to protect myself as much as I can. That's all any of us can do until this thing blows itself out.

Sue Hammond ● 2277d

Sometimes it's difficult to know what to do for the best? My wife who's better at this than me has been asking some friends and neighbours if they need help with shopping. Most have declined at present and I'm sure one wanted to say "are you calling me old?"! I suppose I'm close to the threshold myself. (Perhaps the "elderly threshold" is a good example for vagueness theory but we won't go there at the moment!) One neighbour who did accept who'd been in hospital recently did agree after I explained I'd been at an IT Tech show for a couple of days that it would be better for me to leave the items in a bag by the front door and I'd phone them so they could then pick up the items without any contact - not that there's any reason to believe ivegot anything, just being extra cautious! But, ask people what they want? Some want to batten down the hatches if they've got health issues, other might prefer to have social contact and accept the risk - that's their choice in a free country?

Michael Ixer ● 2277d

I agree Barbara it's a dilemma but I suppose we have to limit the risk. I usually visit my cousin on a sunday, he has 24 hour home care,spoke to the carer on duty today and said I had a bit of a sniffle and had they gax any guidance from their employers ( a private co contracted by the NHS) and he said no saidp it was up to me.reluctantly I'll avoid the risk of taking anything in to my cousin or his carers. Will leave the shopping outside and maybe chat through ths window for a while.

Andy Pike ● 2277d

Andy, either way total isolation will only be possible if they have friends, but what if a district nurse goes to change a dressing on a leg, they will have been in contact with numerous other people so defeats the object. Or have to go and give them their medication, or cook a meal for them. Everybody will have been in contact with somebody else.

Barbara Stevens ● 2277d

Not only does it defeat the object, but it sounds like a brilliant way to, er, enhance the spread of the virus...

Richard Carter ● 2277d

I think that defeats the object of self isolation.

Andy Pike ● 2277d

A few years ago a house going towards the swimming pool used to do a lunch for the elderly, so their not left on their own perhaps a building could be made available to get them out for a while, if somebody in a wheelchair somebody might be able to take them.

Barbara Stevens ● 2277d