Let me paraphrase “if you don’t behave – they will lock you up and throw away the key!”
In some ways, this is the real-life experience of staff, managers and residents within the social care sector of the “lockdown”.
Regardless of the individual settings, whether community, residential or nursing, young or old.
Locked down, locked in and forgotten, feeling isolated, vulnerable, nervous, undervalued and confused.
Informational messages and updates which often conflict or fail to illustrate what is happening and being experienced yet manages to ratchet up stress levels.
Clarity and support often coming from those within the sector, by managers, directors and others who recognised from pre-lockdown that they could rely on each other to find answers to issues within their sector. Not realising how essential this would be when the sector was instantly isolated within this national crisis.
These managers who know they will be called to account at some future stage, owners who have to look at the real cost figures in an already stretched sector. The frontline direct care workers who regardless of their own fears ( and their families fears!) are so very conscious of the real responsibility they hold in keeping their charges healthy and happy.
You cannot overestimate the levels of concern and individual measures these carers take upon themselves in doing this.
Reality hit when practicalities hit – toilet rolls! No let’s talk essentials – Food.. how- do you ask families and staff to drop in whatever they can as your staff and cooks grow more concerned daily about stores and whether they can offer not choice but a nutritional diet, as supermarkets limit items, and the Governments promised letters to confirm vulnerability and shielding status fail to arrive (arrived literally as I’m writing this!) Whilst social distancing and shielding measures prevents them taking part in meaningful occasions and celebrations.
Again though our teams are incredibly resourceful and are finding ways to bring families together. Check out individual Facebook pages and web sites.
Never mind the ‘PPE’, the policies, procedures, risk assessments and care plans – promised health supplies are negligible and as stated by many run out almost instantly, the guidance doesn’t evidence experience when carers struggle with masks for an hour or two- not six, eight or twelve. Or when visiting the 6 of 10 calls that shift!
This is the time when those that understand and are experiencing similar issues have come together to brainstorm, share sourcing information, rant, shout for help and bemoan unclear guidance. To try and make sense of the daily updates and how they often fail to match the reality – have come together to commiserate, congratulate and uplift. recognising that ‘stronger, together’ is so so true.
Forgotten/ ignored ? initially maybe..perhaps a positive of this dreadful time is the gradual awakening of the social care sector in the public conscious as a real frontline of serious care, dealing with life and death. A very real adjunct to the NHS, a ‘profession’ to be proud of.
Not forgetting those other ‘blue-collar’ workers who now are ruling our world!
This is our reality of Lock Down
Libby
16/04/2020 this was our truth..