I was really hoping that my first post in 2021 would be full of positives, and hope for a return to some form of normal lifestyle during the opening months.
Instead, we awake to a new lockdown regime, a rapidly spreading new virus variant, people not wanting to obey strictly laid down stay at home requirements, and back to on line learning for all those of school age.
Plans to visit relatives such as our grandchildren are again halted, and I have commandeered the dining room table for a workplace for my businesses and also for the NHW work that I do.
My sole highlight to date is the addition of a grand-daughter handmade pottery drinks coaster for the dining table, which at least keeps her in mind every time the coaster is in use.
The lockdown has put a total stop to any face to face meetings again, so NHW group recruitment will be stilted until the lockdown eases again.
Even with sending out joining information to several potential new groups, it is often the personal touch of a visit and chatting that could persuade a group to form and act in their local area.
I am really missing the meetings where I can interact with community groups and resident problems, where I can either offer advice, or put people in touch with an appropriate agency or office.
The latest lockdown situation will again get me to ask the familiar questions for those who live around you.
Have any family circumstances changed whereby the resident in your street will have trouble accessing groceries or prescriptions?
Does anyone actually interact with a distanced chat or health enquiry?
Is anyone NOT out and about who would have fetched milk or a daily paper as their exercise?
Has anyone stopped walking their dog recently?
Have lights stopped going on at night, where they would have been used regularly previously?
The usual ones of – “is the milk still on a doorstep”, or “papers / mail stuck in letterboxes?”
It takes 5 minutes max to knock on a door and check – distanced and safe!
Peace of mind and the resident knowing that someone cares – not much to ask !
This message is also going out to all NEL NHW Co-Ordinators to try to re-establish the initial contacts made in March 2020, still highly relevant in January 2021.
The 20121 message remains the same –
STAY SAFE, STAY WELL, STAY HOME WHERE YOU CAN, WAIT FOR YOUR TURN FOR THE VACCINE AND BOOSTER SHOTS, CHECK ON RESIDENTS WHO MAY BE VULNERABLE, REPORT ANY PROBLEMS TO LOCAL AGENCIES.