RootsChat.Com
General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: Musicman on Sunday 15 March 20 07:53 GMT (UK)
-
A woman has designed a postcard aimed at helping people to look after their neighbours if they are self-isolating.
The print-at-home template is being shared on social media, with those in need able to request shopping, urgent supplies or "a friendly phone call".
Becky Wass, from Falmouth, Cornwall, said the idea came to her as she and her husband discussed ways to help.
"Because fear has spread so quickly, its really important to try to spread kindness," she said.
Users are encouraged to leave items on doorsteps to avoid direct contact.
Ms Wass said the response to the cards had been "incredibly heartwarming".
"I do think in times like this everybody wants to do something to help, and this postcard just makes that a little bit easier."
Full article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-51880695
-
What a good idea, my neighbour and I look out for each other but we do have our other halves, we also look out for a man who has just become bereaved , he is 89, if his porch curtains are pulled we know he is Ok, I also watch for night time lights, it is not being nosey it is being a good neighbour, I also belong to neighbourhood watch
Louisa Maud
-
I am Skypeing every day with an acquaintance in Lancashire, who is self isolating with his wife. Both have serious health problems. He was bemoaning his lack of contact with the outside world. I had Skyped with him before and just rang him up out of the blue. We now put the world to rights every morning.
Skype is available, free, to everybody who has a PC. I don't know about Android, or Apple products. If you can use it, I would advise you start as soon as possible. You don't have to turn your camera on if you don't want to, but it allows you to talk to someone in real time with pictures if you want.
Who knows? - You might be the one who is in need of a visit, or a chat.
Regards
Chas
-
My only problem with this are the possible scam ones which could circulate
-
Certainly spread the kindness, we can all look out for a neighbour
My daughter has had a message that someone from her company might have problems, so she decided not to visit us today as usual just in case, she suggested we set up a WhatsApp to keep in touch if it doesn't blow over soon
My church might close which I find really sad, BUT , hopefully we can get back to normal in the not to distant future, that is if we haven't starved to death due to idiots thinking of themselves by stock piling goods
Louisa Maud
-
That was almost exactly the sort of thing that I was thinking of when, on another thread, ("State of Emergency", on this board) I suggested that the imposition of quarantine on the elderly would lead to scams and older people being swindled.
-
We will just have to go with the flow as it were and ride it out
Louisa Maud
-
My Neighbours have my home telephone number and my mobile which were given to them with the offer of help anytime.
They did not have to wait for a virus outbreak for me to give them my contact details.
-
One of our local Facebook groups has set up a help group for our area. This morning we had a note through the door from four students living in the road offering to shop and run errands. Hopefully I won’t need them, but I think their parents should be proud of them.
Barb
-
Skype is available, free, to everybody who has a PC. I don't know about Android, or Apple products.
Definitely available on iPhones and iPad and I presume Android as well as long as you have data. I use it all the time, it's very useful for keeping in touch with people who live abroad as well. WhatsApp is another good free one, when my sister was on holiday in Australia I spoke to her every day - no charge and it was clearer than a normal phone call.
-
Yes, but the most vulnerable are the very ones who don’t have any contacts like Skype etc.
No computers ,no iPads, .
There are very many .
They shop in person ,a little each day, just to get out and to be able to easily carry what they have bought.
They live week to week ,queue for their pension in cash at the P.O.
I know they will be getting fewer as they get older but there are still some and they are deserving of consideration.
It is alright celebrating Britain’s great victories, but they did not happen without the efforts of people who are now old and needy and being by-passed by those who cannot visualise life without gadgets .
Sorry, this is not aimed at any of RootsChat’s posters.
But so many just do not undersatand.
Viktoria.
-
I think it is underestimated those of around may age (75) who have access to computers/phones . I know all the people I know have them. Go into any coffee shop or cafe and look around they are either using them or talking about emails and texts.
-
That exactly is what I mean, I am not being disrespectful but the people of whom I speak can not afford to frequent cafes, they can no more pay cafe prices than take a cruise !
I have no idea what Pension Credit is ,but State Pension is under £1,000
every four weeks .That is about the maximum.
Not a lot when people were not able to augment their pensions by joining ’ their employers’ schemes because there weren’t any.
So honestly ,computers, iPads etc are beyond their income , and they do not trust such things either, certainly not for paying bills.
There are some really savvy old people who are perfectly at home with IT
but others who have never touched a computer or iPad and don’t own a mobile phone.
Things are moving too fast,no banks in small towns, hardly any Post Offices,
It is taken too much for granted that everyone is a computer wizard, can manage their banking online safely etc.
If only a few more years had been allowed, and the immense changes had been slower so my generation and the few people who are older than I am
would not feel so completely left behind.
My son gets a bit exasperated with my non savvyness!
I told him the other week to go to the kitchen and make one of those cakes he likes so much !
Well he couldn’t could he!
So neh neh neh neh neeeh neh!
Honestly ,the people of my generation who have no experience with IT are many, the modern world has left us behind.
The whizz kids who are perfectly at home with IT can not put themselves back to the day before they ever met a computer,they cannot teach someone who has never met one .
So I venture to say whilst many elderly and old people are very capable ,especially if their job entailed using computers , there are very many for whom computers are a frightening mystery.
Viktoria
-
My church might close which I find really sad,
Mine has a live video link for Sunday and other special services.
-
I suggested last week having a service in the churchyard if the weather is nice, my worry is people might not come back to church once they have lost the habit
Louisa Maud
-
I think these cards being used to offer help to people who are self-isolating are great but how do you know who is self-isolating? I don't know many of our neighbours so have no idea of their age or vulnerability. It would be helpful if there was a pre-arranged signal that people could put in their windows to say that they may need help at some point. I also feel it would be useful that if people don't need help because they have a good support group around them, they don't waste generous people's time and let them know that they are OK.
Just some thoughts.
Rishile
-
I think these cards being used to offer help to people who are self-isolating are great but how do you know who is self-isolating? I don't know many of our neighbours so have no idea of their age or vulnerability. It would be helpful if there was a pre-arranged signal that people could put in their windows to say that they may need help at some point. I also feel it would be useful that if people don't need help because they have a good support group around them, they don't waste generous people's time and let them know that they are OK.
Just some thoughts.
Rishile
We have had one put through our door yesterday.
We have the name of the person offering help and their contact telephone number.
Do we know them, no.
So if help is wanted all we would do is contact them via their mobile and explain that we are self isolating.
My suggestion is that you type up a contact sheet and post a printout through all your neighbours doors, on the sheet you could also suggest that they replicate your action.
There is also a Community Website that you could setup one for your street, it is called Nextdoor, and it operates like a mini forum.
-
Joan Bakewell or it may have been Esther Rantzen mentioned "Next Door" on Radio 4 "P.M." in a spot about strategies for older people coping with isolation.
-
The radio presenter this morning gave a warning to people to be careful about postcards and leaflets that are being posted through the doors. Most will be genuine and from kind people offering help. However, how long before unscrupulous people start doing it? What is to stop someone offering help by shopping for an old, vulnerable person, taking their money, or worse still their card and pin number and disappearing? Dreadful thought, but unfortunately I fear it will happen.
-
I totally agree,and very sadly there was a case in my home town of a very respectable person helping a neighbour , but when the neighbour died the family who lived a great distance away discovered what they felt were discrepancies .
It was possible the person being helped was forgetful but how foolish of the helper to act on the verbal wishes of an old ill person, as it resulted in them appearing in court ,their reputation in ruins and they broken.
Being a neighbour of many years standing is no guarantee either way.
Things financial need legal agreements.
That said what a pity to hesitate in giving help.
I have my neighbour’s key,but on the odd occasion whenI have been concerned I have been able to contact her daughter who works some distance away, more than an hour, and said Your Mum is not answering the phone do I have your permission to go in?.she phones her Mum and if
no,answer then yes please go in.
My neighbour has short term memory loss so what she says will be forgotten a little while later.So a verbal agreement needs to be between all the family and me too.But I do not have to deal with money matters ,just day to day keeping an eye on things.
I always make sure I open the door ,wait on the threshold and say is it OK to come in ,you are not answering your phone.
It is worrying though, I feel very sure an able neighbour is perfectly OK,but—- not fair to him to just have an informal arrangement .
Not come to that as yet as my son is reasonably near and
I know I am fortunate in that.
Thank goodness for RootsChat and it’s lovely posters.
I hope you all keep safe and well .
I think, catching the tail end of a radio programme that trials have started with the mixture of Malaria and HIV vaccines it is hoped
will deal with Corona Virus.
Correct me if I am wrong ,
Cheerio everyone.
Viktoria.
-
My neighbour is worth her weight in gold, she has my key and looks after things if we are out or away, puts my lights on if necessary, I would trust her with my life, BUT we do have to be very mindful of strangers and people we don't know, it is a sad world we live in but we must have trust in people, perhaps weigh up the situation at the time.
Louisa Maud
-
Scammers are about already:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8121213/Scammers-stealing-money-elderly-coronavirus-outbreak-offering-shopping.html
Martin
-
Let's hope that anyone doing this is severely punished.
-
...and wasn't that exactly what I warned would happen, when the news popped up that well-intentioned people were offering to do this sort of thing? There's always some really sick opportunist keen to profit from misfortune and the vulnerable!
-
Possibly even worse - just read it on the Midland Live area of BBC website - scammers are knocking on doors in the Wolverhampton area, offering tests for Coronavirus (for a fee of course) :-X
-
Words fail me to be honest folks, I hope they will be severely dealt with , their reward won't be in heaven
Louisa Maud
-
I know what I would do with them :-X :-X :-X :-X
-
May I help you?
Viktoria.