SELF-isolation is necessary to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus – but it can lead to loneliness and can affect mental health, particularly among over-70s, who the British government said this week should self-isolate.
And being stuck indoors may mean you do less exercise, so keep your brain busy with reading and doing puzzles – and keep moving even if that just means a walk around the garden or getting up and moving from room to room.
The charity Mind UK recommends that, unless working at home or minding children, people in self-isolation should use this time at home to spring clean or do admin tasks they have put off.
For over-70s who are confident online, it would also be a good time to learn a new skill. Learning with Experts (learningwith experts.com) offers a range of courses, for example.
If you’re lonely, call The Silver Line, a helpline for older people set up by Esther Rantzen, on 0800 470 8090. You can also call Independent Age on 0800 319 6789, Age UK on 0800 055 6112, or Friends of the Elderly on 0300 332 1110.
William Keevil, a professor of environmental healthcare, advises staying in contact with elderly relatives by telephone or Facetime and other instant or video messaging services.
Volunteers are mobilising to help those who are isolated. Dozens of support groups have sprung up, including on Nextdoor, a local neighbourhood online network, and Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK, on Facebook and WhatsApp. They are co-ordinating to offer people in self-isolation help with shopping, dog walking and picking up prescriptions.
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