For the vast majority of people across the country, it feels like the whole world has turned upside-down very quickly. As many of us adjust to life under lockdown, social distancing is proving to be a difficult experience.

At SureCare, we’re particularly concerned about the health and wellbeing of our service users who often find daily life a bit difficult already. Spending a lot of time at home may be familiar for some of those we care for, but knowing that the wider community is also affected can also have an impact on mental wellbeing.

That’s why it’s important to ensure that everyone is able to stick to normal routines as closely as possible. A stable daily routine allows us to stay organised and helps keep our minds free from worries or stress. While many regular routines will be affected by social distancing, there are still a few things you can do to keep your days on track.

What is social distancing?

It’s been discovered that the coronavirus causing this COVID-19 disease transmits from one person to another much more easily and quickly than other common viruses. To best protect ourselves and those around us, the vast majority of people are being encouraged to remain at home as much as possible and not come into close contact with others in public.

By sticking to these social distancing guidelines, the virus shouldn’t be able to spread to so many people. This, in turn, will ensure the number of people needing hospital care stays as low as possible and the health service doesn’t become overwhelmed.

But social distancing doesn’t have to mean completely cutting yourself off from everybody. While we might not be able to see close friends and family in person, we’re still able to stay in contact over the phone, on social media and even through video calls.

Coping with the distancing measures

Keeping in touch with our loved ones from afar can help us to beat the isolation blues. It’s a hard time for everyone, but regularly contacting friends and family will certainly keep spirits high. Whilst a phone call is an easy way to stay in touch, video services like Facetime, Skype and Zoom are becoming increasingly popular, allowing us to see each other as we chat.

It can be very easy to slip into a habit of sitting about the home all day every day, so try to stay as active as possible – both mentally and physically. Whether you enjoy reading, listening to music, a bit of light gardening, or catching up on your favourite programmes, variety in your daily activities will help to occupy your time.

Of course, you’ll want to stay on top of the latest news and Government advice, but don’t feel bad if it all gets a bit too much at times. Staying switched on to constantly rolling news coverage can play heavy on your mind. By limiting your news intake to just the regular morning and evening bulletins, your mind won’t feel so bombarded with additional worries.

How we’re helping

A lot of the services that SureCare’s teams of care workers deliver are usually quite hands-on. Having to limit physical contact in recent weeks has been a struggle, but right across the country our care teams have found new ways to adapt and carry out our quality care services in a safe and effective manner.

This means respecting personal space and adhering to distancing guidelines as much as possible. For any personal tasks like assistance with getting up, getting dressed or help with eating and drinking, our care workers use appropriate protective gear and keep physical interactions as brief as possible. We’re also committed to providing company and conversation to help brighten your mood.

We also understand that, for many of our older customers wanting to make video calls, setting up the technology may be a bit of a struggle. Across the country, we’ve already heard good news stories of SureCare assistants helping to quickly set up and explain how to use a phone or tablet to keep in touch with loved ones. And our teams are finding innovative ways to assist with all kinds of new requests during this social distancing period.

Sticking together

This very strange time is proving to be a bit more difficult for people from all walks of life. By sticking together and supporting each other, we know we’ll be able to help each other through to the other side. We can’t guarantee how long the social distancing measures are going to last, but SureCare teams across the country are dedicated to giving unwavering support for as long as it takes.

You can use the special coronavirus section of the Government’s website to stay on top of the latest advice for social distancing and the warning signs of COVID-19 to look out for. Simply click the following link for the most up-to-date information: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
 

If you also want to find out more about how SureCare is supporting local communities at this time – or if you or a loved one is in need of additional support – get in touch with your local SureCare branch. You can find all the relevant contact details from our Find a Branch page.