Supporting Isolated People During A COVID Christmas
Christmas is generally a celebration, but it can also be a lonely time for many people. This year, with the added pressures of COVID-19, is it inevitable that more people will be socially isolated than ever before. Social isolation does necessarily mean the same thing as being lonely; some people can be isolated, and yet not feel alone, whereas other people can have a lot of people around them and seem very sociable, while still feeling lonely. What makes one person feel lonely and another person feel lonely is a very personal, subjective thing. We know that social isolation, however, is often be linked to loneliness.
If people live alone and have less mobility, it stands to reason that they are at higher risk of being socially isolated. While this also increases the risk of being lonely, for older adults, social isolation can also increase the risk of them developing dementia, falling over or hurting themselves, developing hypothermia, needing to go to hospital, and in extreme cases, even dying.
Before the global pandemic, there were many things we could all do to support people who were isolated during Christmas time; the most important being simply visiting and spending time with them. Now, however, we all have extra safety considerations and need to ensure that we are not inadvertently spreading COVID-19, especially to those who are the most vulnerable. With this in mind, here are a few suggestions about how to safely support socially isolated this Christmas time…
Remember more people are isolated this year – those in older age groups, or with underlying health conditions, who would typically be able to socialise and get about may have to stay in this Christmas. It can sometimes be difficult to know if somebody is socially isolated because it can be something people are embarrassed to discuss. Admitting that you don't have any close friends, family, or loved ones around you is not easy for some people. So take some time to make sure you know who in your life may be being affected in this way.
Drop off in a Christmas card – little gestures like this can mean so much when people lack direct contact with others and has a minimal health risk.
Offer to grocery shop and provide practical support – as the cases of COVID-19 increase in the community, some vulnerable people are not able to safely leave their homes to do even basic things, so offers of help can be vital. Remember to do this safely though; wearing a mask, washing your hands and leaving any deliveries safely on the doorstep, rather than going inside.
Use online tools – we’re all a bit Zoomed out this year, but for those who cannot leave their homes technology can be a lifeline. Everyone has different levels of technical competencies, but even just a text asking questions which show you are interested in prolonging conversations when you see them.
Give them a ring – while online communication can be handy, a good old-fashioned phone call can really help people stay connected. A lot of us have got out of the habit of phone calls, but during the holiday season, especially a good chat can lift people's spirits.
Be alert for signs of illness – while you may not be able to have direct contact with people who are isolated this year, you can still be tuned in to make sure they are well and healthy – often the simplest way is to ask them regularly. If someone shows any signs of illness, COVID-19 or otherwise, encourage them to see a doctor.
If someone is feeling lonely, the holiday season with all of its expectations and focus on friends and family, can make everything feel worse and the pandemic has made this even more difficult. This is the time of year when we all need to be a little bit more aware and thoughtful about people who are in the situation.
Everybody can benefit from a more caring, engaged community that encourages connection. Life can sometimes take a strange turn – it certainly has in 2020! Many people who would never have expected to find themselves lonely or isolated, suddenly have. So this holiday season, please keep your eyes and hearts open for those who may need a little bit of connection – after all this is what caring and Christmas is really about.