Age Concern Luton Coronavirus Update 6th April 2020

As we enter the fourth week of these highly unusual times we’ve been able to take stock a little and update everyone as to some of the changes we’ve implemented.

Our previous blog detailed the essential alterations we’ve made to our befriending services as we move to a more remote model.  We’ve also changed our handyman and Home Support services to provide fast, targeted relief to those leaving hospital, the housebound and those who require the most shielding.

Unfortunately, we simply don’t have the resource to help everyone who is currently requesting support with shopping.  We are currently accepting one month’s worth of referrals for this as well as 3 weeks’ worth of emergency food parcels every day!

For those reasons we are prioritising support with shopping to people based on their age, whether there are friends or family who could be reasonably expected to support and the disabilities they have.  This has meant that we are not able to support people in their 70s who are reasonably fit, nor those who have an existing arrangement.  Lots of older people are worried about being an imposition to their family and neighbours though our experience is definitely that by and large these people are happy to and will continue to help.

We are also providing ‘one-off’ support to older people where online orders have been cancelled or those who look after them need to quarantine themselves (due to symptoms) for 7-14 days. 

This exceptional demand for our services has meant we aren’t able to help people, much as we’d like to, get a few odd bits (for example where online substitutions aren’t quite right!).  None of us want to ask older people to ‘make do’ without a cuppa or food they want but unfortunately this is the reality of the situation we are facing for at least the next 2 months.

Finally we’d like to extend a huge thanks to our local supermarket and convenience store managers and staff who, under enormous pressure, have been helpful, creative in finding solutions, and above all kind to both our team and older people in general during this unprecedented situation.