Today I called an elderly friend I know from church. He's 92 and almost totally blind, lives in a lovely care home, really happy there. I phoned him last week and he was ok, they were limiting visitors but his brother was still allowed to visit. Today he said that all residents are now having to stay in their rooms all the time, the staff just come in to them if they need anything and to bring in their food and chat to them a bit. They don't see anyone else at all. No visitors, no socialising with other residents.
He is completely with it, completely understands the severity of the covid situation but said today that he would rather go out for a coffee with his brother, get sick and die than spend another week sat alone in his room. And he's smart enough to know that he is going to be alone in his room for a helluva lot longer than a week. He said he's only got a year or so at most anyway and he doesn't want to spend that time sitting in a room by himself. He has a phone in his room and has friends and family phoning him all the time, we can't do any more. But he's so sad and he doesn't want to live like this. He was so matter of fact about it when he was talking, but he just sounded so sad and so resigned, like he had given up.
I know he's not the only person in this situation, but he's usually so cheery and positive and to hear him speak like that today has really upset me.
He did say that all the staff are being absolute heroes and doing their best to keep everyone cheerful and happy. Thank you so much to everyone who does this job, it must be so hard and so sad.
I can't even say oh it will be fine, you'll be back to normal soon, because it probably won't be normal ever again in his life.
How did this happen? It's so shit and so unfair. I'm so sad and angry tonight.