Will you see your parents this Xmas?
It is important to weigh up the positives and negatives of visiting relatives this Christmas
It is your decision if you visit your family, but here are some points which should be considered if you are to make the best decision
Last Christmas many of us did not see our loved ones, and if they were in hospital, a care home, or living outside our local area, the position was dreadful. Many died without seeing their family again.
We know what we can and cannot do
While the plans for public enquiries are being formed, we are faced with another fearful time. It feels cruel when care homes and hospitals put up visiting restrictions and rules, but at least we know what we can and cannot do. However unfair it seems, there are rules to follow.
It is much harder when your relative is an older person, living alone at home, who has put up with social deprivation all year long, and is longing to have a meal with others. How do you decide whether to risk a gathering?
It is your decision.
But here are some important pointers.
Make sure you know ALL the Covid symptoms including sneezing and sore throat, so that you can be sure you are not bringing bugs to the party
If you feel tired or ill at all, DON’T join the party but stay at home and get a test
Make sure everyone in the party is vaxxed and boosted.
Protect yourself and others with handwashing and masks and regular tests
Choose a large well-ventilated location where people are not too crowded
Ask everyone to take a lateral flow test before attending
Make sure the music is low so that people can talk without shouting or leaning in to each other
Think about how you might feel afterwards if someone becomes ill and you suspect it might have been the gathering that caused it. But also think about how you might feel if the ones you love never met again on earth. It’s not easy. It is your decision.
If you would like more information, you can buy my book Dementia, the One Stop Guide or Care Homes: When, Why and How to Choose a Care Home. I am available for consultancy for families or organisations. And if you have any further queries or questions, or suggestions for something you’d like to see me write on, please contact me via the Contact Page
See my new course on Dementia the One Stop Guide on Policy Hub here
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