My grandmother is 94 and been isolating since mid March. She lives alone and relies on a once a week family food drop off with a 10 minute chat from the end of the driveway.
She lives alone but has access to a phone so will chat to friends and family daily. She’s slow on her legs but up until lockdown had been used to going to various clubs and a weekly trip to town on the bus.
Since lockdown she’s slowed up even more due to lack of exercise, she can sit out her garden but is gradually getting lower and lower in mood due to lack of company and the loneliness of not having human company.
She doesn’t want to come and stay with us - any member of the family able to take her has someone who works out of the home so she couldn’t be shielded. She’s desperate for visitors and will ask daily if it’s allowed to have someone come in her home and sit at either end of the room. We’ve all said no at the moment as none of us want to be that person that’s brought the virus into her home.
We could go and sit in the garden I guess but I live an hour away and if I need the loo whilst there I’ll need to go in the house. We are also in Wales so unlimited travel is frowned upon.
I know there’s no easy answer to this but I’m beginning to think this is no life for her, she’s also starting to get prepared to ‘take her chances’ with it - she wants to go to the supermarket and sit on a bench whilst we shop as she can then chat to someone.
I feel so sad for her, it’s torture. Is anyone else in the same position, what did you do?