15 June 2020
From Saturday 13th June, those in England who are living alone or in a household with only one adult, e.g. a single parent with dependent children, can create a “support bubble” with one other household – even if they fall under the clinically vulnerable group.
This will be great news for many older people who have been living alone since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it will give them the opportunity to see family or close friends face-to-face – possibly for the first time since lockdown began in March!
It’s important to remember that the rules around support bubbles currently apply to England only, with other parts of the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, advising their nations according to what they believe is best course of action.
According to the gov.uk website, “all those in a support bubble will be able to act as if they live in the same household - meaning they can spend time together inside each other’s homes and do not need to stay 2 metres apart”. With this in mind, many older people who choose family as their support bubble may want to stay overnight and enjoy more time with their relatives.
At Complete Care Shop, we offer a range of products designed specifically for travel, or temporary use – ideal for those who need to drive to their preferred support bubble, or for anyone expecting a guest with additional needs. Below we address both situations and how you can best prepare for this next phase of lockdown easing.
The government is currently advising anyone in England who is “shielding” due to being clinically extremely vulnerable NOT to form a support bubble with another household.
There’s no limit on how far you can travel in England to your preferred support bubble, only that support bubbles should be exclusive - meaning you should not switch the household you are in a bubble with or connect with multiple households.
If you need to drive to your support bubble but find it difficult to exit your car without help, it may be worth considering a Car Caddie or Handy Bar, which can assist in pulling or pushing yourself out of your vehicle, respectively.
If you’re living with mobility issues and require support whilst walking, you may also want to invest in some folding travel equipment which can be easily lifted into your car boot. The Compact Easy Rollator is ideal for supporting you indoors and outdoors, meaning you can walk safely to and from your car whilst also walking confidently around the home you’re visiting.
If you’re visiting your support bubble, you can be less than 2m apart from those living in the household and stay overnight as if you were members of the same household.
If you find it difficult to see in the dark, it may be worth taking a plug-in Night Light, in case you need to visit the bathroom during the early hours. Alternatively, if your level of mobility makes it hard to reach the bathroom in time, you might consider taking a Folding Commode to set-up in your room – it’s light to carry and could really help to prevent a fall from rushing to the bathroom in the dark. A pack of Commode Pan Liners will help towards easy disposal of waste in the morning and are designed to prevent odours.
If you know your guest finds it difficult to sit down and stand up, you may want to consider adding a seat raiser to your living room furniture. Simple, reliable and affordable, this handy product will raise the height of your chair so that your guest puts less pressure on their joints, helping to reduce pain when sitting or standing.
One place your guests are guaranteed to go whilst visiting is the bathroom. Much like the chairs in your living room, it is also possible to raise the height of your toilet seat temporarily with a Raised Toilet Seat to make your guest more comfortable.
An overnight guest may like to have a shower in the morning, so investing in a Folding Shower Chair for your shower cubicle can be a great idea. This will give your guest a place to rest if they find it difficult to stand for long periods of time and can be easily folded and stored away after use. It’s important to be aware that shower stools or chairs should only be used in a shower cubicle or wet-room area, not where the shower is over the bath.
If you think your guest may need additional support when sitting and standing, why not add a temporary grab bar to your shower wall? This Chrome Suction Grab Rail is designed to blend well with modern bathrooms, attaching to a tiled wall using 2 suction cups, and can be used to assist with balance .
View our full range of Car and Travel Aids and browse our online shop to find the products and support you need as we enter this next phase of lockdown easing.
By signing up you consent to us using your email address in accordance with our privacy policy.