Allow those living alone to visit and interact with one other household

Let people living alone visit/socialise/interact with the members of one household to help with feelings of isolation.

Why the contribution is important

For those living alone the mental health implications of isolation and lockdown are immeasurable and we will probably see the consequences of this reaching way beyond the end of this period. If we allow them one household (obviously the household must also reciprocate by only allowing this one person) to visit and interact with it surely doesn’t up their risk any further than if they had just moved in with that household? Moving in is not an option for many due t tenancy restrictions, leaving properties empty, animal care and also the recipient household’s ability to make room etc. This would help ease some of the burden put upon people living alone.

by ElNoble on May 05, 2020 at 03:16PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.9
Based on: 26 votes

Comments

  • Posted by AuntieKaty May 07, 2020 at 20:25

    Social isolation is already a problem in our society and this for single person households is leading to depression.

  • Posted by roobie May 08, 2020 at 08:29

    The impact on solo households has been devastating and this should be the first measure introduced and urgently. We have up til now been given zero consideration and this level of isolation has destroyed my mental health and I do not doubt that this will have happened to many others. Exercising alone is a soul destroying experience as is spending 24-7 with no human contact - video calls do not compensate on any level. Sole households should have been considered in stage 1 of lockdown and were not, with a hugely negative impact on our mental health

  • Posted by JohntheHedge May 08, 2020 at 12:59

    I feel this is the best summary yet of a positive way of dealing with those living alone and the effect on their mental wellbeing.

  • Posted by Rachael May 09, 2020 at 11:05

    As a mid-20s adult living alone when lockdown began I feel I have been forgotten. There is much talk (and rightly so) was of older generations and the vulnerable being alone, but little about those who do no fall into those categories. I have spent weeks separated from my parter, friends and family, and this has had a huge negative effect on my mental health, which had no real issues before lockdown began. There must be thousands of people feeing this way and I fear that it won’t be much longer before we see a spike in mental health related admissions/deaths, but or before this level of isolation begins to have lasting effects. Even if we could be allowed to visit 1 household (or have 1 person come in to our house!) I think this would majorly improve my current situation.

  • Posted by Elliesun23 May 09, 2020 at 14:09

    I completely agree with this. Please, please allow those living alone to pair up with another household. Having had no hug from a friend or family member, no one to eat with or share a cup of tea with and working from home alone all day for over two months now it is becoming unbearable. Video calls etc help in the moment but when you hang up the isolation then feels worse if anything. I know it is starting to have a real impact on my mental health. Rightly focus has been given to the challenges for parents homeschooling and balancing work etc but I feel not enough recognition has been made of the impact on those going through this period alone. Even if contact has to be outdoors in the first instance, just being able to go for a walk with my mum who lives very near me (and is also on her own) would make such a huge difference in helping us cope.

  • Posted by daz7067 May 09, 2020 at 15:15

    I TOTALLY agree with this. I live alone have no family and my partner works abroad. I cannot stand much more of this isolation and being so lonely - I just want to be able see one or two of my close friends, have a hug and a chat to another person NOT just seeing them over the internet My mental health is deteriorating and I am beginning to have suicidal thoughts. None of the governments seem to give a dam about people who live alone - its just assumed everyone has a family -we are the forgotten part of society and the governments should be ashamed of themselves for implementing rules that discriminate against those who live alone

  • Posted by Christina May 09, 2020 at 19:57

    I was already desperately lonely before the lockdown and when it happened I felt so bad I wished to die from the virus. I got past the worst of that but for each day moving forward I fear for my own sanity. If I didn't have a cat who needs me alive I don't know what would have happened to me by this point.

  • Posted by AlisonM May 09, 2020 at 20:24

    Contact with other human beings is a fundamental need for our health and wellness.

  • Posted by LBrown23 May 09, 2020 at 20:57

    Agree wholeheartedly - and household with a single adult should be able to have another source of support. I had a 3-day migraine yet still had to look after myself and two kids with no support. I’m aware I at least have the kids for company Single adults not falling to a shielded group have been forgotten.

  • Posted by as1 May 11, 2020 at 19:18

    100% aree with this idea, and it should be a top priority to help those living alone to avoid complete isolation.
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