Covid Chat Tuesday 31st March- "As an isolated ol... - PMRGCAuk

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Covid Chat Tuesday 31st March- "As an isolated older person, I've been deeply moved by the sacrifices of others"Dorothy Byrne

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Today's chat suggested by Rache and is a discussion article with Dorothy Byrne, long time GCA advocate who has appeared discussing her GCA experiences on various platforms.

theguardian.com/commentisfr...

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26 Replies

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suzy19595 years ago

I felt very moved reading this. The love and care for others that is being revealed is so wonderful!

Rache• in reply tosuzy19595 years ago

I had a lump in my throat while reading it too!

TheMoaningViolet5 years ago

Waitrose (UK) are now prioritising individuals listed as extremely vulnerable according to the governments guidelines for any online shopping deliveries. So you could register even if you have not been their customer before and they will offer you a slot. Delivery slots are not being offered to anyone else as far as I can see at the moment. They don't deliver everywhere, so people need to make sure that their address is covered first.

• in reply toTheMoaningViolet5 years ago

I rang tesco via a 5 stage answering service...felt like that anyway...poor bloke sounded terrible when I said when were they going to do something about the socially isolated as promised...then ended apologising to him and telling him to stay safe. It's not his fault...the gov and heads of companies don't seem to be in the same place and not acting transparently. NHS staff at 10 to 11 at one...what shift pattern does that help??

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply toTheMoaningViolet5 years ago

I’ve been an online customer of Waitrose for at least 7 years, but because I’m not in the vulnerable group (according to HM Govt - no underlying issues ) cannot get an online slot.

OTOH Sainsbury’s who I do shop in quite regularly (last online slot was 18 months ago - knee replacement and only 2 or 3 times) - have got me on their prioritised list just by DOB. Today, after many tries have got a slot for this Friday!

Think I know where my allegiance may lie come the end of all this.

• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

Exactly. They are missing a trick. I have been in Tesco for years. Joined the others. I hope I can stick to shopping at the little shop that provided fresh food when no one else would.

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply to5 years ago

Our local village shop/post office is very good - but not really capable of a “weekly” shop. But I think they may do very well in the weeks to come. Hope so, because we do need them - we just forget sometimes!

Spoke to my hairdresser - also a friend - this morning - she’s not sure if she’s going to get any help because she’s down as a director of her salon - not self employed! Her staff are okay. Trouble us her hubby is a builder /handyman - and the rules are a bit vague on what they can if can’t do! Decorating her salon at the moment- but obviously not being paid!

• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

I am afraid the self employed are going to suffer. The systems aren't dealing with UC switch etc so with this load....the problem at the heart of it will be that all the different branches/depts of gov probably works on different it systems...does anyone know if this is the case? It really wouldn't surprise me.

When I first had to stop working and was told I needed to move benefits when it was long term, I took my banking documents in 7 times. Posted 3, personal at local office twice and in person at the main office twice and not in that order. If it's still that bad...yikes.

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply to5 years ago

Forgot to say it took her 6 hours yesterday to complete forms for her and hubby - nearly lost the will to live!

• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

I heard people in the radio say they had been hours sorting things out. Paperless world...not.

PMRproAmbassador• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

I have steadily gone off Waitrose in recent years. I can't stand Asda really - but I am more likely to get what I want there and at 2/3 of the price! Last autumn we had end of the break shopping to do in rural Dorset - no, I know, not ideal! Waitrose in Crewkerne had more empty shelves than full! There was a special offer at the checkout - with no before/after price and the checkout operator hadn't a clue. Visiting a friend on the way back towards Dover they showed us how to find Asda on the way to the motorway - so much better. Maybe I'm just not posh enough for Waitrose - but in Durham I did keep trying, but the "Waitrose only" items I would have bought were never on the shelf and you had to spend £30 to get the £2.50 parking fee paid. Everywhere else was free parking ...

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply toPMRpro5 years ago

I found they were the easiest to get online shopping when hubby was ill and my undiagnosed GCA- and I do like some of their products - so I vary between them and Sainsbury’s (son was Sainsbury’s bank CEO in the dim and distant past when he worked with HBOS).

scats• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

I found the same. I was shopping for my mother and she wanted waitrose, when PMR hit. I have had no trouble for years. They have said they will contact all regular customers over 70, not sure how they will know, I have my fingers crossed. If you are relying on deliveries you are restricted to who delivers in your area. Some of the farm shops are offering delivery and I would love to support them, but you can't get everything there.

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply toscats5 years ago

We have a few local farm shops etc - but as you say only supply limited items.

As for shops knowing age - if you have a loyalty card you probably had to provide that - then the stores can target you for items they think specific to you age.

scats• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

Thought they only had name and address, we'll see. Around here in waitrose, I'm usually one of the youngest, there will be a lot of competition for delivery slots!

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply toscats5 years ago

Watch out for the battling grannies with walking sticks then 🤣😂🤣

scats• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

There is a certain kind of exceptionally thin old lady that moves in slow motion around the aisles, we used to refer to as the walking dead!

Yellowbluebell• in reply toscats5 years ago

I jave just had a couple of deliveries of fruit and veg one direct from veg people and one via SIL dropping box on doorstep and its only with both of them that i have got a variety. Our direct one doesnt do fruit but has included apples this time but the one from SIL contains a lot more fruit and a bigger selction of veg. We now have a lovely steak casserole on the go to try and use up a glut of carrots and leeks!!

• in reply toYellowbluebell5 years ago

Celeriac, leeks and roasted butternut squash stray soupy thing as my new delivery of veg is hopefully tomorrow. 🤪

scats• in reply toYellowbluebell5 years ago

Is that the fruit place you mentioned before?

Yellowbluebell• in reply toscats5 years ago

The one with the fruit and veg is the one i mentioned and they sent grapes, plums bananas, toms, spuds, onions celery leeks swede, apples oranges parsnips cucumber and peppers

jaycee444• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

Dorset Lady - did Sainsbury's get back to you after you applied? I rang the number on their website (automated ) and gave date of birth etc and it ended with them informing me they would be in touch with 2 or 3 days but I have heard nothing.

DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer• in reply tojaycee4445 years ago

No they contacted me via email saying I was a priority shopper...I was quite surprised actually thought I’d need to contact them.

I get regular emails from them anyway regarding offers/vouchers etc, so guess they are staggering whom they contact maybe based on info they already have.

Hope you do get a reply soon.

jaycee444• in reply toDorsetLady5 years ago

Thanks DL

scats• in reply tojaycee4445 years ago

You're in the same position as me, waiting. The question is how long do we wait?

jaycee444• in reply toscats5 years ago

Exactly - but not a lot we can do about it. Lots in the same boat. If I hear I will let you know.