Class those living alone as vulnerable regardless of age

There needs to be a contact system in place to ensure that single person households can get emergency help when they have no one close by who can help them.

Why the contribution is important

Solo households have no one to help in emergencies and the COVID19 crisis has shown just how easily we can be cut off. These people all need support to avoid situations that are potentially very dangerous for their health. It should not be assumed that only older people or those with pre existing medical conditions are vulnerable to sudden illness or other emergency if they live alone.

I contracted COVID19 and had no one to get food or other essential supplies for me. It was assumed that if I became ill enough to need to go to hospital I would be able to call myself an ambulance. Not guaranteed if you can't breathe! I was lucky to have gotten through it but was not classed as vulnerable so was unable to get food delivered. Those who live alone are generally only classed as vulnerable due to age or existing medical conditions. Isolation has shown that everyone who lives alone is vulnerable when they are left unable to get food or emergency help for themselves. The focus has been entirely on families and as a group we have been left out because we don't matter.

by Catslave on May 06, 2020 at 07:11PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.7
Based on: 16 votes

Comments

  • Posted by WSR May 06, 2020 at 19:38

    I live alone but don't consider myself vulnerable. I am lucky and know I can use the Facebook local cv support group If I need help of any sort. I would not like to be put in a vulnerable group and have additional restrictions placed on me.

  • Posted by theresasheldon May 06, 2020 at 19:40

    No I dont think this is appropriate. OT's of folk living alone and are not vulnerable at all.

  • Posted by rossb May 06, 2020 at 20:01

    Totally agree. I don't live alone but know people who do. I have contacted those I know regularly but there are many people out there living alone who don't have a network of friends or relatives who can do this. There should be a national register that people living alone who feel vulnerable can register with, and which charities can have access to (if the people registering agree) and who would recieve food deliveries and at least weekly contact from a member of the local council.

  • Posted by Lasteele May 06, 2020 at 20:24

    Agree to an extent I live alone but have full time job have family in same town however yes fully understand how some people living alone would feel isolated. As I have epilepsy yes true if I had a seizure if I didn’t have family anything could happen if I didn’t get a daily phone call/ text and they didn’t have spare keys. There should be an opt in register for times of crisis an added safety net as it were so a voluntary network could contact people check in daily or weekly to see people are ok. But yes, irrespective of age or disabilities etc I think there a solid idea here that could be explored.

  • Posted by Susan May 06, 2020 at 20:58

    Simply living alone does not make one vulnerable. Having Covid19 or other illness does. There needs to be a mechanism for ill people with no support network to access support - food supplies + checking health has not deteriorated.

  • Posted by Countrygirl100 May 06, 2020 at 21:04

    Great idea👍
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