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Original poster

Shopping for a vulnerable person - how to do it?

34 replies

2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:18

So am shopping for the first time today for someone on the shielded list and therefore particularly vulnerable.

Stupid question really but am wondering how to make it as safe as possible.

I don’t have gloves - but did manage to pick up hand sanitizer. Im almost considering some freezer bags to maybe cover my hands when handling the trolley. Hand sanitiser before getting in car, hand sanitiser again before dropping off. My fear is really about the bags and food packaging I suppose.

I don’t know the person who I’m dropping the shopping off to, so have asked them to please be really careful on their side, but of course they haven’t had shopping ina while so a lot of products like “antibacterial wipes” are part of the shopping list itself, so am assuming they’re probably out of this sort of stuff.

Any tips?

OP posts:
iVampire · 09/04/2020 08:24

Top tip is to stop fretting about it.

Unless you know otherwise about an individual, assume people in the ‘shield’ group are normal, competent people who you would not suspect had a medical condition if you met them at any other time. And we’ve seen all the same advice as you - possibly even more as we’ve suddenly got far too much time on our hands

That said, as they’ve asked for a lot of cleaning products, put them together in one bag, and put that bag nearest the door so they can easily see it, and use its contents to wipe down the rest of the shopping

clareOclareO · 09/04/2020 08:25

Ask them to not touch anything they won't need to use immediately for a few days - cans, dried goods etc. This should give the virus time to die.

Anything needed sooner, or chilled/frozen goods, should be wiped down with antibac wipes/spray. If you're buying these for them they will be able to open the packet, wipe them down, then wash their hands.

Remember - if they touch an infected virus they shouldn't get ill so long as they wash their hands thoroughly and avoid touching face, especially mouth and eyes.

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:25

Didn’t mean to enable voting 🙄

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 09/04/2020 08:29

Hi, I am doing this for a neighbour. I just wash hands before going and when back, I then use antiviral wipes on their packages / or wash with soapy water, put it into a different bag and leave it outside their door.

We speak on the phone and she leaves me a list with some notes in a purse to pay for it (I use my card to pay so need to then pay this money into the bank which is a bit tricky as not branch nearby so not very easy right now)

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:29

@iVampire yes I very much think this is the case - the person seems lovely and very competent. I think it’s just suddenly occurred to me that, the likelihood is that for the moment I’m the only person contacting them - so if they became unwell - it would be my fault - and it’s overwhelmed me a little.

That said Dh been shopping for my older parents and it hasn’t induced this level of worry in me. I think it’s perhaps because I know what they are doing with the bags etc. (And that my mum has gone full on lockdown mental - she shouted at my dad talking to a neighbour about 6 metres away)!

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 09/04/2020 08:30

I did give them a packed of the wipes also and some hand gel but that was before it got so tricky to find and as I know them quite well before this. Not so easy now.

Purplewithred · 09/04/2020 08:30

I’ve been shopping for someone for several weeks. I do the same for her as I do for me in the shop (very basic precautions) but I expect her to take whatever precautions she feels appropriate when unpacking and using the Shopping.

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:31

@orange Yes I very much doubt I am going to manage to get wipes to be honest, but will try.

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 09/04/2020 08:31

I felt stressed like you as well, and thought that too.

Orangeblossom78 · 09/04/2020 08:33

The best thing they can do it wash their hands with soap, and they can wash anything with soap as well, that is easy to find. If you are worried I guess just wipe / wash it with a soapy cloth

I am stressing about having to go to chemists to pick up prescriptions etc and thinking of suggesting the Boots online delivery service to them perhaps.

iVampire · 09/04/2020 08:34

Don’t be overwhelmed!

What you are doing is lovely - I got my delivery slots sorted, but there was a remarkably stressful couple of weeks when I thought food parcel or someone shopping for me would be my only options. Getting a shopper who is as conscientious as you sound would be an absolute godsend!

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:34

I did manage to get hand gel last night out of a local shop - wish I’d though to buy two. I just didn’t want to be greedy about it.

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 09/04/2020 08:34

At the end of the day it's their responsibility to wash it etc if any delivery was coming in would be the same risk...I still get what you mean though.

sleepymummy2019 · 09/04/2020 08:35

Gloves aren’t necessary, if anything they’ll give a false sense of security so you wash your hands less.

Take something with you to wipe down the trolley handle. Wear a mask if you have one, even a DIY dust mask may help. As above, pack cleaning products in one bag so they can access them easily. Gel your hands regularly. Stay 2m away from people. Get stuff in packets where possible so they can open the packet and decant the contents, then throw the packaging away.

If you do this then the groceries will be at least as clean as if they had ordered a supermarket delivery. It’s the best you can do 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:37

@Orangeblossom78 I’ve also done some shopping for my neighbour and that has been a bit easier as I wipe down the shopping at home.

Logistically this one I won’t be able to as I’ll be going directly from shop to her, I think that’s what’s panicking me a bit. I swear I never usually overthink things like this, and for my own shop I’d probably be a bit on the cavalier side (I don’t wipe down my own shopping for example). You really do find out who you are in a crisis don’t you! Confused

OP posts:
LOLeater · 09/04/2020 08:37

Friends are shopping for us as DH is vulnerable and putting tins and jars in one bag means we can dump bag in garage and leave for 3 days.

You’re doing a very kind and helpful thing. It will be hugely appreciated.

Potentialmadcatlady · 09/04/2020 08:38

I’m shielding and have been getting deliveries of food etc via friends. I am SUPER careful about how I bring things into the house. I put on gloves then bring in anything that can’t be left- milk/bread etc and set it into sink. Anything that can be left is taken is taken straight to my shed and left there for three days or longer if I can. The stuff in the sink is then washed in soapy water or wiped down with wipes. Anything that can then have its outer packing taken off is emptied into clean bowls and the out packaging put into bin. I then disinfect any handles I have touched etc and the sink. I wash my hands then remove my hoody if anything has touched it.
Thankyou for helping the shielded person. They will be super grateful for your help

Mascotte · 09/04/2020 08:38

Just wash your hands before and after shopping. And leave it on the doorstep so no actual handover. Then it’s their choice.

And it is a nice thing to do, I was so grateful for someone who did this for old relatives of mine as I couldn’t get them shopping.

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:38

Great tip on bagging up the cleaning products separately!

OP posts:
TabbyMumz · 09/04/2020 08:41

They wont be doing all this on a supermarket delivery.

GreenTulips · 09/04/2020 08:45

Tesco have a trolly spray and blue clothes, then hand sanitiser and hand towels and a bin by the entrance with staff over sewing things. They are now one way to prevent people walking past.

It couldn’t be safer really.

In logical terms, you are coming into contact with very few people. The risk should be minimal.

Orangeblossom78 · 09/04/2020 08:50

Yes they need to wash it etc if they want to

I only do that as I live next door, but as you say you need to go straight there from the shop, which is different.

Tigeerqueen · 09/04/2020 08:51

The thing is that the shopping could already be contaminated by people who have touched it, not just you. Use hand sanitizer regularly during your shopping. Do not use your mobile phone. Make sure the vulnerable person knows to wash their hands after touching any bags or packaging.

It's a lovely thing you are doing. Ask them if they are happy for you to make sensible substitutions and ask for feedback if these are ok seeing as you will be doing this for a while and give them the receipt but photograph it first. I usually put their food through in a separate transaction from my own. Will they be doing a bank transfer to give you the money?

TabbyMumz · 09/04/2020 08:54

"Use hand sanitizer regularly during your shopping."
Where on earth are people going to get this from? Havent been able to find any for a month now.

Original poster
2020canfuckrightoff · 09/04/2020 08:59

@tigerqueen thank you great tips - that’s sort of my thinking - I can’t control what’s touched the items etc.

Good idea about asking about substitutes, and yes bank transfer after the shopping and will photograph. The person seems perfectly lovely and Competent - but am having visions of things like not being able to set up a new payee etc (and it’s quite a big shop). I do think the supermarkets are moving on this as I can’t help but think some people will not be able to vounteer who might want to due to the issues around payments.

It’s a shame an escrow system cannot be set up.

OP posts: