Sorry, just need to share

[Lottie4]

My Uncle and Auntie, aged 86 and 85, are very special to me. My cousin (their son) and his wife have just tested positive for covid. Spoke to my Uncle and Auntie earlier, they both have coughs and sound breathless to me. I've told them there's no question, they have to test, but they're going to leave it 24 hours. Past history, Auntie had TB. Uncle has had TB, lung cancer three years ago, has had two bouts of pneumonia recently and has a shadow on his lungs, initial xray can't rule out cancer. Just feel like I could cry. Apparently other members of the family who my cousin has seen are showing symptons as well.

They spent Xmas Day and Boxing Day with my cousin and his wife and I know my they spent 20 Dec together, as cousin dropped off shopping and his wife cooked dinner (even though my Auntie is very capable of cooking a good really good meal) .

Oh how worrying for you

There’s a very good chance that even if they have caught covid they’ll recover but they obviously need some support if the rest of the family are also ill. Have you googled their local councils covid response or checked their local face book? You may be able to put them in touch with an organisation to keep an eye on them and help them out with any shopping etc.

The response is patchy in England and I’ve no idea at all what it’s like in wales. For instance my dad 100 miles away thankfully lives in a community that have really pulled together and have fabulous resources for supporting people, not so much where I am...

Thanks for your reply. I know they have the telephone number for covid testing, but think they're in denial. I've asked them to get tested just to keep me quiet, adamant they'll leave it 24 hours, so I don't feel I can push it any more right now.

If they do test positive, then yes I will look into support from other options. TTheir DIL who has it works for social services, so hopefully she's got the right connections anyway. We don't live in the same area and they're in road of other elderly people. One good thing is that I know they always have a fridge and two freezer fulls of healthy food.

Well the food situation is good at least

DP was contacted by track and trace when he was isolating and offered practical support and questioned on his health status so hopefully they’ll be getting something similar.

Stay strong - you can keep in touch and don’t have to be the ‘nagger’. You can always call for emergency help for them if you think it’s needed. Follow your own gut though and don’t be dissuaded by their stoicism; there are so many people who don’t want to be a bother and they’re usually the ones who need the help.

Has the cousin given their details to test and trace? Perhaps aphone call from them might persuade them to get tested. They are isolating I presume?
The important thing though is that they seek help sooner rather later if they are unwell.