Quick question about shielding and Christmas.

[WishIWasSomewhereElse]

I'd arranged for my parents to come for dinner at ours this year. This caused a lot of aggro with Dsis, but it was arranged, all happy etc.

We were in Tier 2 last week, then Tier 3 on Saturday, less than 24 hours later we were Tier 4.

I understand under Tier 4 rules you can see your support bubble, and I'm in my parents. All going ahead.

Dad (who is terminally ill), was phoned the other day and told to shield.

Mum is now reluctant to come (especially as the meat she bought herself needs to be cooked tomorrow), but dad is determined to come.

As I remember from the first lockdown, shielding people couldn't have anyone in, not even in their support bubble. We would wear masks and see them from outside last time.

This year is especially shit, as it's the first Christmas without my brother, so I guess dad wants to escape so he's not left with painful memories (the loss has made his demise far faster).

On the one hand I want them to come, on the other I worry that we're exposing him, it may well be his last Christmas, which makes it more significant.

I really don't know what to suggest.

Sorry to hear about your dad and brother
In your shoes I would follow your dads lead on this one

Thank you @Jrobhatch29

Shielding is a choice, it's just advice. I agree with pp,go with your dad's choice in light of risks and the circumstances

Thanks, I've spoken to my Dsis as well as my husband.

Our room we sit in is tiny (our dining room is currently unusable), so we will be in very close proximity.

DD should be fine, as the school tracing finished yesterday (she finished school last Thursday), DH is a bus driver, currently four people at his depot have CV, one has died from it, another is in hospital (DH doesn't have to isolate as he tries to stay away from communal areas there). My DS is also coming. Although he is germ-phobic (he has Asperger's), and wears a mask, sanitises his hands constantly, he has been to several shops the last few days.

When dad is ill he is very ill. He often can't breathe, regularly suddenly has vomiting and diarrhoea. I worry that mum will not cope if something happens to dad, so am wavering as we will be in very close proximity.

All sorted, dad doesn't want to come as his GP has scared him.

I admit I'm crying. I'd so looked forward to it, having not had them for years.

Really sorry op, didn't want to read and scoot. Hope tomorrow is better than it feels now

I think lots of us shielding are more anxious than we were. It’s not just about survival but about your experience in hospital if the worst happens we aren’t yet at the level where they are rationing ICU beds but if you are seriously ill in hospital right now you’ll not have visits with loved ones and people need that

@Didkdt

I think lots of us shielding are more anxious than we were. It’s not just about survival but about your experience in hospital if the worst happens we aren’t yet at the level where they are rationing ICU beds but if you are seriously ill in hospital right now you’ll not have visits with loved ones and people need that

Can understand with that:I'm just thinking keep me head down another month/six weeks,and, touch wood, we'll been on to group four for vaccination 🤞

I'm so sorry

I know someone who's mum died of cancer in the summer, he didn't see her for weeks because she was told to shield & he says now that if he knew she was going to die when she did he'd have spent all the time he coyote with her.

Are they close enough for an outdoor visit tomorrow?

So sorry OP. What about the option of doing a Christmas lunch later in the year once they have been vaccinated, as you are in their support bubble?

@WishIWasSomewhereElse

I'd arranged for my parents to come for dinner at ours this year. This caused a lot of aggro with Dsis, but it was arranged, all happy etc.

We were in Tier 2 last week, then Tier 3 on Saturday, less than 24 hours later we were Tier 4.

I understand under Tier 4 rules you can see your support bubble, and I'm in my parents. All going ahead.

Dad (who is terminally ill), was phoned the other day and told to shield.

Mum is now reluctant to come (especially as the meat she bought herself needs to be cooked tomorrow), but dad is determined to come.

As I remember from the first lockdown, shielding people couldn't have anyone in, not even in their support bubble. We would wear masks and see them from outside last time.

This year is especially shit, as it's the first Christmas without my brother, so I guess dad wants to escape so he's not left with painful memories (the loss has made his demise far faster).

On the one hand I want them to come, on the other I worry that we're exposing him, it may well be his last Christmas, which makes it more significant.

I really don't know what to suggest.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/coronavirus/shielding-reintroduced-for-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-living-in-tier-4/ This link is really useful. Support bubbles continue in tier 4. Obviously, and I say this as a cev shielder, I would try and really reduce your risk to them, by reducing your contact outside of the home too, if possible.