Life on the inside: Ways to help the elderly during lockdown
● Older people may feel very cut off and could use a little help to combat the loneliness of isolation writes Abi Jackson
People in older age groups are already at risk of loneliness and isolation, particularly those living alone and without home internet access, so many could be feeling extremely cut off during the coronavirus lockdown.
Ensuring older people have the food and prescriptions they need is important – but so too is caring for their mental health.
Depression and anxiety can widely affect older age groups too, even if we tend to talk about it less.
So, how can we support isolated elderly relatives from afar? Here are ten ways to help:
Create a check-in rota with other family members
Could you create a rota with other family members, so that somebody checks in with them every day?
You might not be able, or have the capacity, to call them yourself every day.
Making it a shared effort is good for everybody’s wellbeing - and you will all feel more connected as a result.
Talk about fun and distracting things on the phone
When you do have those phone check-ins, try to avoid just talking about the pandemic situation every time. Some light-hearted distraction can work wonders for all of us. Not sure what to talk about?
How about TV show storylines, ask about their favourite books, share updates on funny things the children have been doing at home, and those “creative” dinners you have been concocting.
Give them a list of handy helplines
There is a lot of support available for isolated elderly people during the pandemic - but if they do not have wifi or a smartphone, they might not know about it.
Do some googling and give them a list of phone numbers that could be helpful if they find they are struggling for any reason.
For example, Age UK, Independent Age and Mind all have helplines, and some also have befriending services that will match them with a volunteer for friendly phone chats.
Community volunteer initiatives, such as Covid-19 mutual aid groups, are cropping up all over the country too. Many are using Facebook pages to co-ordinate - so scope out key contacts for their area.
Make sure they know there is help available for shopping and prescription collections
Your relative may be aware of the advice for over-70s to stay home – but they might not know help is available if they are running out of essentials, or need to pick up a prescription.
Or perhaps they do not want to bother anybody or be a burden.
Make sure they know that support is available and that asking for help does not make them a burden – in fact, it is encouraged for everybody’s sake.
This is where those neighbourhood support schemes can come in handy.
Local councils and the Government are also co-ordinating support for the vulnerable and over-70s.
Have a chat to them about scams
You do not want to add to any anxiety, but it is a good idea to have a chat with elderly relatives about scams.
Unfortunately fraudsters do jump on any opportunity to con people, so make sure they know that nobody legitimate will ever cold-call and ask them for money or bank details over the phone, by text or email, or at the door.
Encourage them to remain physically active at home
They may be really missing their walks to the shops or swims and Zumba.
Keeping active is vital for all of us, to stay healthy mentally and physically.
Chat to your relative about ways they can keep active at home.
Inspire them with some of the things you have been doing yourself.
If their mobility is limited, chair exercises and simply pottering in the garden (if they have one) are great.
Ensuring older people have the food and prescriptions they need is important – but so too is caring for their mental health
Help them take up a new hobby
Ask them if there is a craft they have always fancied trying, or activities they really enjoy to keep occupied.
Perhaps cross-stitch, adult colouring books, or even just a stack of crosswords to have agoat.