Shielded, what does it really mean?

I'm prescribed meds that lower my immune system but control RA and other auto immune conditions that travel with it. I received my Shielding letter dated 21.04.20. but had been following most of its advice since mid March. As we're retired and haven't had contact with family or friends we ignored the recommendation not to share a bed, food etc.
The positive thing that followed the letter was I was given priority by Tesco, who emailed me within a day or so of the letter arriving. It's not our usual supermarket but I'm genuinely impressed by the quality and the delivery service.
It's made a big difference and my husband no longer needs to go out to shop.

I am breaching the guidelines never to leave the house. Pre the letter arriving, we'd continued to walk every morning for an hour or so. WE avoid busy areas and maintain a large distance if we do meet anyone. My GP phoned this week to complete my annual RA review. He was very thorough of course and he asked if I'm following the Shielding advice. I admitted the walking and he stressed the high level of risk category. He went on to be very supportive and acknowledged that the level of risk to me by walking is low and balanced by the positive health benefits.
Keep safe everyone. I'm counting my blessings, we have a garden and easy access to open countryside by walking from our front door. I live with my husband, we get on well. I have loved one's who are recently widowed, so very hard to be isolated in those circumstances. Of course I miss my children and grandchildren but its brought home again how fortunate we've been so live near enough to see them regularly and to get on well. Life isn't problem free of course, it wasn't pre-lockdown but its to be lived.

I thought it was just me being cynical NfkDumpling
Oh I don’t doubt they care and weekly phone calls were fine (just) , but to my surprise and pleasure two of the DDs (the ones with the youngest of my GC) have taken to daily FaceTiming and I do a bedtime story with the 3 year old. It also helps for the 1 year old to “recognise” me and I love seeing his progress each week.

I'm cynical too Maw! Is it a bad trait?

I have just realised how grumpy that makes me sound!
We none of us live less than 1 1/2 hours from each other and with the older children’s weekend activities it never really bothered me not to see them every few days the way some people can.
I would pop down to London and see one or both of the DDs who live there 2 or 3 times a month (unless childcare required) and see the Birmingham family perhaps once a month -again plus the occasional sleepover. I felt the balance was about right for us - I still have (had ) a life here and will have again. I think it is dangerous to let one’s life revolve exclusively around children and grandchildren (however nice when they are tiny) - we are more than mothers and grandmothers!

MawB you are so right, we are more than mothers and grandmothers. I am trying to teach myself to draw during lock down and I'm sewing again. Missing the ease of contact with people but its a time to reconnect with ourselves. Even in retirement, I suspect I've continued my busy life, so slowing down has benefits.

I haven't received the letter but being 70 I'm in the at risk category. I must admit that the first warning was quite frightening, I guess most people assumed that we weren't to leave the house at all, and that did stress me being used to daily walks. Eventually I calmed down and after a few enquiries realised that I could still have my walk especially as we live in a quiet area. A friend of mine never received the official letter but only towards the end of April a letter from the GP telling her to shield, she's under 70 but on dialysis.

Suzie woozy, thanks for you comment but I prefer to understand The Letter in my way at present no matter how someone else sees it, I guess you can read it your way too.

I have three friends who have received "the letter". They are very careful but they all have allotments (away from home) and go every day, taking care not to come close to others.

You only need to sleep separately if OH is going out. I am immunosuppressed and OH is over 70 so we have supermarket deliveries and kind community helpers pick up and deliver our meds. Our fresh air is in the garden. Terribly hard to not see GCs in person

The half stone I managed to loose and struggled to keep off is back on. I’ve left NanKate’s Pear Club for the duration. All very depressing. Mind you, I may loose some when I get my hair cut!

Sleeping apart????

Anyone analysed the differences between the initial 'shielded' and the subsequent 'shielding'?

I found the thought of shielded rather comforting initially. Here was government trying to protect me from a dread disease.
Then Shielding followed which seemed to reflect the truth more adequately.... that we elderly and infirm should keep/ be kept out of harm's way to avoid further pressure on the NHS
Have regular Skype contact with family and good neighbours in a newly-awakened community but fear that I have already become used to living in this fashion. If the 'shielding' continues then my newly discovered good neighbours might be somewhat less interested in doing my shoppng in 6 months' time
We shall still be old, though and suffering from auto-immune and other conditions and institutionally house-bound. What then?

I haven't had 'the letter' but am self isolating. I have asthma and I am diabetic.
I haven't been out since lockdown (apart from to hang washing out when no neighbours are in the communal garden) and I have shopping delivered as I would normally, as I am disabled.
I haven't seen my dd or grandkids since apart from video chat and right now I would give my right arm for a cuddle ?.
My meds are delivered by the pharmacy aswell.
I live alone. The isolation is crippling. My mental health is really suffering.
I am also missing my the man in my life.

My dm is one of many who's 'letter' never arrived! She is definitely on the list, has had food parcels (despite trying to cancel them because she is getting supermarket deliveries). She is home with her husband. He isn't leaving the house either.
I'm concerned now that there may be information on the letter that mum should have??

DH and I are both 71. We’ve had no letter although my son had a general letter from Boris just after the lockdown was announced. I drive to my local supermarket once a week to shop in the seniors hour. Last week it was so quiet I didn’t even have to queue to go in. I walk the dog once a day so that’s my exercise. Haven’t seen my grandchildren for weeks apart from a wave through the window a few times. I speak regularly by phone and have a weekly Zoom chat with friends. One of them who is in her late 60’s said she had had a lovely day on VE Day with son, daughter in law and children - who don’t live with her. She then added but don’t tell anyone as I suppose it was wrong ?

And I fear we now know what is in store for our declining years
MawB Now cheer up! You're not declining! Saw your pic. recently (btw. liked your specs; would suit me!) and you looked AOK. for more than a few more years yet.
Speaking from personal experience I can assure you that there will be nothing to fear even when your decline sets in, provided you maintain your healthy lifestyle which shouldn't be hard to do with lockdown!
Apropos of nothing, wasn't it Mark Twain who said he'd rather decline two beers than a German verb!
OoRoo

I am over 70 , live alone and have had the letter. It told me I shouldn't leave the house, only fresh air through open windows, get someone else to put the bins out etc, etc. If I lived in a town or city I could understand, but I live on the outskirts of a small village, I can leave my small bungalow, in a cul-de-sac, without going down to the main road, I go onto the fields that are 25 yards from my door. I touch nothing, nor do I come within close distance of anybody if I go out for a walk. I think we have to use our common sense, the letter is standard and quite naturally, your own circumstances are not taken into consideration when they are issued.

Mind you at the moment a walk over the fields is out of the question, my hayfever has gone through the roof!!

I had a letter from my local county council saying they had reason to believe, from information they had on their records, that I may be one of the “vulnerable”giving all sort of advice on self isolating and useful support contact numbers! I’m was a little confused by this as, apart from my age, over 70, I have no health issues that would cause me to totally self isolate. They agreed with my decision to stay home and stay safe, only shopping online and taking the minimum exercise once a day, practising social distancing and not seeing other people, including family, was the right thing to do!

missdeke there is nothing in the letter I had about not leaving the house and only getting fresh air through open windows.
We're lucky enough to have a garden so I've been out gardening most days and walking round it a few times.
The information must have been given by the local health board to the Chief Medical Officer.

And as for not sharing a bed, kitchen, bathroom, if possible surely that is if another person in the household has to go out of the home for work or other essentials?
If both, or everyone is staying at home, the only way a virus could be transferred is on groceries or deliveries.

People need to use a degree of common sense.

I'm sneezy too, missdeke!

I am Shielded and have the letter. My specialist nurse told me to stay at home and if I do really need to go out then to wear a mask. I am very careful of parcels and foodstuff that comes into the house, and my partner who stayed at home to start with has returned to work and is isolated at work, so I feel relatively safe. It annoys me that the general public who are supposed to be socially distancing are not, which in turn could put us 'vunerable' people at more risk.

I would like to clap for all people living on their own, and others in flats without any outside space.You are "silent heroes" keep safe and healthy.

You're right, others are being rather stupid and selfish.

Thank you Rufus - don’t get many compliments these days

Although I remember being at Chatsworth Flower Show two years ago, taking Hattie with me. I was standing in the orchid marquee when I heard a male voice say “Hello, aren’t you a beauty”
I turned round and he was stroking Hattie’s head and ears.
Ah well!

Meg I’m not the only one who says you are misreading the letter. You are, That would be fine if this wasn’t a public forum and your wrong interpretation could mislead and upset others. For the avoidance of all doubt , a household where everyone is shielding can share beds, kitchens, bathrooms , hugs and rampant sex if so inclined. If you want to make life more awful than it is Meg that’s your choice but don’t mislead others and maybe worry them.

Well said Joesoap, I'd like to add my support for all the alone and the lonely gransnetters and a big clap to you all, we will get through it, we absolutely will, hang on in there.