Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

How can I help my elderly parents other end of country get groceries?

28 replies

LoungingLizard · 19/03/2020 18:34

...I probably can't can I? Any ideas?

I feel a bit useless as I can't go there to help (they are not only in their 80s but my Dad is ill with different things including fluid in the lungs). If I lived near there I would go to every little shop I could find for groceries and leave them on their doorstep, but I'm at the other end of the country with a family to look after here, including homeschooling now as well.

And there are no delivery slots to get groceries sent to them!

My mum is trying her best to find groceries in different shops but it's hard, and in going out looking she is exposing herself to infection when my Dad is in an incredibly vulnerable state!

I'm worried.

OP posts:
SinglePringle · 19/03/2020 18:37

Local church
A charity specific to their needs?
Contact local volunteer agency
Do they have a dog? Contact Cinnamon Trust if so (they’ll dog walk and probably collect groceries if needed)
Local greengrocers doing delivery? Ditto butcher.
Local farm shop?

There are just a few things I’ve put in place for my parents.

BertieDrapper · 19/03/2020 18:38

My local area has set up a Facebook group for volunteers to register with and for people to post for help.
Can you see if something similar is available in there area?
Do you not know other people in the area at all?

ilovecherries · 19/03/2020 18:49

It’s horribly worrying. My parents are about 300 miles away, and in their very late 80s. Both are fit and healthy, but my mum needs a lot of medication to keep her so. Everyone in their street are of a similar age, and they have all been very consistently isolating for over two weeks now. I did manage to book them one Tesco shop to get them set up with basics, but there are no slots left for another. I tracked down a local milkman who is delivering milk, eggs and cheese for them, and by phoning round butchers found one who will do a weekly order. I managed to find bread flour locally to me, and actually posted it to them, along with spare loo rolls and soap. Desperate times, desperate measures. The spar shop doesn’t deliver, but they have agreed they can order and pay on the phone, and if dad phones when he arrives they will pop out and put it in his boot without him having to get out of the car and engage with them. It’s not ideal, it feels very patchy, and as if it could fall over at any time, but it’s the best I can do for now. Hate it though. It did take me a solid day on the phone to sort it though - they are both deaf and really struggle with complex phone conversations.

Orangeblossom78 · 19/03/2020 18:51

My Dad lives 700 miles from me.

It was pretty simple, found out which supermarket delivered to him by putting in the postcode and asking his preference (Tesco)

Asked for his bank card details and did the order online, he got it this week.

ilovecherries · 19/03/2020 18:52

Amazon pantry unfortunately seems to be out of anything useful.

TheDuchessofDukeStreet · 19/03/2020 18:53

Do they have a milkman? If not could you arrange one?
That would be milk, eggs and orange juice sorted. Milk and More?
I think there is a delivery service of ready meals called Wiltshire farm food though I have no experience of these. Veg box, Abel and Cole?
Local church? We are part of a group called Nextdoor for our local area and people are organising help of this kind for our elderly neighbours, is there anything where they live? Age concern? Salvation Army, WRVS?

ilovecherries · 19/03/2020 18:53

Yes, that works IF there are slots, blossom. None of the supermarkets either where I am or where they are have delivery slots any more.

Geometricprince · 19/03/2020 18:53

Have a look if there's a local Facebook group, there's one round here and lots of people offering to get shopping and also small local businesses offering deliveries.

Belindabelle · 19/03/2020 18:54

Look and see if their area has a local Facebook page.

Our local page has taxi drivers offering to deliver food shops for free. The postman is also offering to collect medication and essential items. There is details for milk/cheese/cream deliveries. A local firm are also delivering veg/ fruit boxes plus breads etc. Most restaurants have turned into takeaways with many delivering for free to OAP’s

Yesterday I went to visit my MIL who is totally housebound and lives about 30 miles away. I got her all stocked up as best I could manage. I also made her take some cash out so that hopefully if she is stuck maybe some neighbours will pick her up some shopping and she can pay them. I have the contact details of one neighbour who is happy to help if she can. I can pay her via bank transfer online and MIL can pay me back later on. This is just in case we have to self isolate or go into lockdown.

I am also hoping in a few weeks things will calm down and I can arrange for an online delivery for her.

VivaLeBeaver · 19/03/2020 18:55

Someone has joined my village fb group to find help for his parents and has been inundated with offers. So definitely try that.

Orangeblossom78 · 19/03/2020 19:03

I'm sorry, my dad is remote ish Scotland so maybe less demand

if you look online some supermarkets are doing phone orders also from next week, and prioritising the elderly. Morrisons and Iceland are mentioned

Also meal delivery places such as Parsleybox and Wiltshire farm foods could be an idea.

Cockleshellsandsilverbells · 19/03/2020 19:10

Definitely check for facebook groups local to them, we have a few setting up here getting inundated with offers of help. Also check local businesses loads are offering free delivery locally (think smaller shops). Lots of people ready to help just need to find them. I have put our phone numbers through all neighbours on our street for this reason x

NotJustACigar · 19/03/2020 19:10

I have a list of local shops that deliver where I live (Southport) if anyone wants it.

puds11 · 19/03/2020 19:11

We just set up Hello Fresh for ours.

Sugarfreejelly · 19/03/2020 19:11

Where are you OP? Happy to help if I’m nearby.

Sugarfreejelly · 19/03/2020 19:12

Sorry, there are they, I mean!

iwanttoshakesomeppl · 19/03/2020 19:12

Same here OP if you are nearby.

RB68 · 19/03/2020 19:14

how about Riverford

britnay · 19/03/2020 19:15

a lot of farm shops and butchers, greengrocers, bakers etc are doing home delivery boxes

Cornishmumofone · 19/03/2020 19:16

Go onto nextdoor app and appeal for hel in their local area

Howmanysleepsnow · 19/03/2020 19:17

Sign up to Nextdoor app with their address. Lots of people offering to pick up essentials for neighbours on there.

Howmanysleepsnow · 19/03/2020 19:17

Cross post!

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 19/03/2020 19:17

Another vote for a milkman. Ours does essentials - milk, bread, eggs, yoghurt, juice. Where are they (ish)

DianaT1969 · 19/03/2020 19:18

Another vote for going on the 'nextdoor' app. Choose their area as if it is yours. There will be a help group already formed. If not, ask.

ChocRasp · 19/03/2020 19:19

Where are they op? I bet a local MNetter will be able to help with Facebook or Nextdoor.com.

Swipe left for the next trending thread