Dear Coleen

ISOLATING ELDERLY PARENTS WORRIES ME

I’m very worried about my elderly parents, who are both in their late 70s, given the current Government advice to self isolate for the foreseeable future.

They both seem really anxious and I know will miss seeing their grandchildren.

Have you any advice about how I can help to boost their mood?

They have enough people who live close by who can ensure they’re provided for, but it’s their mental health I’m worried about the most.

Coleen says

These are testing times for us all, and especially for the elderly and vulnerable. Luckily, we live in an age with technology that makes it easy to stay in touch, so your parents don’t have to feel they’re dealing with this alone.

You might have called your parents once a week and sent the odd message, but now you have to step up and be in contact a lot more – use Skype and FaceTime every day or every couple of days and get the kids to send messages, make videos and send some photos.

Set up a family WhatsApp group – we have done this and we have so much fun on it.

Of course it’s not the same as being with them, but it can really help while we all have to go through this period.

Also, think about what they’d like to watch on telly or read, and recommend things. Give them other ideas – gardening if that’s possible or doing some jobs around the house. And remind them to go to established media organisations and public health sites like the NHS and WHO, while avoiding scaremongering on social media.