29 April 2020
If you’re shielding at home right now, you will have received a letter, or been told by your GP, that you have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Shielding guidelines put in place by the UK Government, strongly advise you to stay at home at all times and avoid ANY face-to-face contact in order to help you stay safe and well. It has so far been advised that shielding guidelines should be followed until the end of June, and this advice is being regularly monitored.
In the meantime, if your particular health condition makes certain daily tasks difficult and you are concerned about managing independently for the next two months, there are a great many products which can help you at home. For example, if you find it difficult to stand for long periods of time while cooking or doing other jobs around the home, a perching stool is very helpful, so that you can rest as necessary. Equally, a walking trolley can help support you when moving from room to room.
Being at home means that you might be sitting for longer than you might otherwise do, so it’s very important to have comfortable, safe seating. Sitting too long in the wrong chair can affect your back and legs and also make existing heath conditions worse. Reclining chairs, such as the Rise and Recline chair means you can relax, read, watch television, knit or pursue other hobbies in comfort and safety whilst shielding over the coming weeks.
If you are living with a condition that puts you in the extremely vulnerable group, and you live alone, you may be worried about getting your everyday essentials, such as food shopping or medication.
Family, friends and neighbours can be invaluable at this time and it would be worth asking someone you know to do your food shopping for you. Stores, such as ASDA and Marks and Spencer, have used their e-gift card technology to enable you to provide someone else with funds for them to spend on your behalf, ensuring that you stay can safe at home. This is a great option if you’re unable to secure a slot online to have your food shopping delivered. Other supermarkets have slots allocated specifically for older people and for carers. You might find a trolley, such as a shopping trolley, can help you carry in any groceries which have been left safely outside your door.
A friend or family member may also be happy to collect and deliver your prescriptions to ensure you have the right amount of medication. Alternatively, you could contact your local pharmacy and ask them to help you find a volunteer in your area who is happy to help. If you need help with remembering to take the right dosage, a medication dispenser can be very helpful. The Automatic Pill Dispenser has a useful alarm to remind you to take your tablets at the right times, so you never forget a dose.
If you cannot get the help you need through the assistance of friends or family, the UK government can help by delivering essential groceries and basic care needs.
You can register for this service online if:
Complete Care Shop offers a whole host of useful aids to help you get through the next few months. Whether you need help to ensure that you can use the bathroom safely (add link) or if you could use some gadgets in the kitchen to help you cook while alone (link), we can supply everything you might need to help you stay independent at home.
Please be aware there is separate shielding guidance available for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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