Do you, like me, hardly ever leave your house? ?

Thank you MayBeMaw Calistemon yes it was here I had support for very difficult times and that support saved my life x

FC I’m so sorry that you are housebound. I am not but do choose to stay in a lot doing my crafts.

My best friend from school has had MS for years and sadly she has been in her bed since the summer of last year! Honestly, I do not know how she does it. Whenever we speak on the phone she is so upbeat yet she has been dealt a rotten card throughout her life. We are both 69 years old now and she has had MS since her early 30s.

Gwyllt I thought that was rather a thoughtless post. You are obviously making great efforts to overcome your difficulties and good for you, but many people including some posters on here are physically or mentally unable to achieve what you can and have no family or friends nearby to visit or to support them. You obviously have problems but spare a thought for those who for various reasons don’t just say they don’t leave the house - they can’t and have no hope of doing so unless their circumstances change. Best wishes for your rehabilitation.

It’s easy for you to say you never leave the house.
Gwyllt I don't think it is an easy thing to say.

For those of us who have 'known' Anniebach for years and, I hope, given her support through difficult times, some people do find it impossible to leave their homes for many different reasons. Some have described their problems on here.

I' m pleased that you have friends and are motivated and can get out. Although social activities are opening up again many are still reluctant to go.
As we get older we lose friends and it's harder to make new ones even if we do go out and join groups as friendships are established already.
These lockdowns have not helped many who may lack motivation even if able to get out.

So really apart from hospital or doctors appointments I/we haven’t been anywhere.

Oh yes, it gets us out too, Keeper1!
I'm not complaining, we can get out, we can drive but do know people who can't leave their homes at all.

I am not housebound but bound by the situation I am in. My husband is poorly and also needs two new knees so cannot walk much at all. As he is clinically vulnerable I have limited myself by only going to small village shops or online shopping and I try to avoid crowds. Luckily I have been able to work from home so I am on hand for his meds or if he falls. So really apart from hospital or doctors appointments I/we haven’t been anywhere.

Thank you for the flowers AGA
Gabrielle I’m so sorry for the loss of your little dog
Do you think that you might have another dog?

MayBeMaw thank you for replying to Gwyllt, I was going to myself but now don’t need to bother.

Pearlsaminger

I’ve been housebound for the last 3 years or so. Had to give up work due to poor health and mobility issues. I can still drive anywhere (with plenty of stops to get out and stretch) but once I get there, couldn’t get much further unless they had a mobility scooter for use or hire.

So I have purchased a mobility scooter. I don’t need it for home as there’s no shops I use nearby. But I have used it twice for going out on trips to my beloved football stadium to see my team play.

The difference it has made is amazing! No more struggling for an hour on stop/start with having to sit and rest. No more taking 3 days to recover from the day out.

I have felt quite lonely in the past, until lockdown where my daughter has worked from home. Having here around every day has been brilliant for me.

But… she’s preparing to go back to work soon so I’m guessing the loneliness will rear it’s head again. But at least now I’m able to get out and about a little more on my own.

I’m thinking of starting a mobility scooter club in the area, where we can all meet up in the local park (there’s a cafe there)

I’ve never seen a Mobility Scooter Gang - should I insist on leather biker jackets and motorbike boots?

That’s brilliant! Well done you Pearl! (You still have my favourite user name ? )
What type of scooter do you have?
I did some research a while ago into foldable ones, but I’ve forgotten the name of the one that I thought about getting, but I do remember that it was yellow…
Your club sounds a fantastic idea. I wish that you lived near to me, I’d join like a flash! Good luck with it

jenni123

Hi, I haven't left my flat in over 2 years, apart from when hospital transport come and take me to appointments.
I DO have a problem leaving the building, I am now in a wheelchair and to get outside I have to negiotate 6 very heavy fire doors. I have ti try to open the door, have to use right hand, but I then need the right hand to operate the wheelchair, so I have to let the door go and it promptly shuts in my face. So unless I have someone with me I can't get out.

Jenni That really doesn’t sound acceptable in the slightest.
I know absolutely nothing about housing, but I’m sure that you shouldn’t be living in those circumstances.
Have you spoken to someone about it?

I think most of us have found that going out and about is harder due to being confined during lock-down. Last night I had to pick a visitor up at the station. We had to go through town. I had almost forgotten the way!!!

I have to go out at least once (usually twice) a day to walk a very active dog. I know it does me a world of good - both physically and mentally. I feel much happier when I'm outdoors, even though I'm not going anywhere special and I may be alone.

Therefore, I think it's important, for everyone who can get out and about, that you make the effort to do so - and stay strong.

I don't suffer infirmity yet but I am getting older. I go out much less than I used to. I do manage to keep myself occupied at home but apart from food shopping and walking the dogs I don't go out for any other reason on a regular basis.

Gwyllt

It’s easy for you to say you never leave the house. I would be in the same position as I get round on two crutches. I live in the country and am about two and a half miles from the nearest shop
I have a road legal mobility scooter. I go to rehab at the gym, can visit friends for a brew friends visit me and I can go with them on a walk and meet up at places for lunch. It’s amazing what gardening you can do from a mobility scooter too
Go on get out and do things

It is never easy to be in a situation where somebody says “I never leave the house”
Hats off to you Gwyllt for what you achieve on crutches or your mobility scooter, but someone like Anniebach is simply not in your position.
We are not all kept in by the same constraints.

I am pretty much stick in, too! My husband and I both have limited mobility, and I am also partially sighted. He CAN drive, and we go into town (about 9 miles away) by car each week, usually. This is just for shopping.
Since I cannot drive, I have to rely on him to get out at all. It's quite a long walk just to the end of the street. We moved to the far north of Scotland for my husband's health (but it was my idea) - and do not even know many neighbours yet, so we don't really see anyone at all.
We do have the benefit of lovely sea views, but access to the beach and harbour are both some distance away, and are very uneven, making it difficult for both of us.
My husband has a serious spinal nerve injury, and sometimes, understandably, because of back pain, does not want to drive.
I keep thinking of getting a pedal bike, but with my limited vision, I am wary of using the roads (I am blind in one eye, and have no peripheral vision at all, with limited forward sight). I would only use it to cross the main road and then go down to either the beach or the harbour. I would feel guilty for leaving him on his own, but I do all the housework and cooking, and sometimes would like a short break.
Am I being selfish?

I started to go out as didn't want to end up agoraphobic. Really felt this was a possibility at some point. I have been to the cinema and ventured out to hear some live music. I do go out for meals, coffee or shopping but feel uneasy in crowded places. I have health issues but fortunately can still go out. I definitely do not go out as often as I did pre- Pandemic.

It’s easy for you to say you never leave the house. I would be in the same position as I get round on two crutches. I live in the country and am about two and a half miles from the nearest shop
I have a road legal mobility scooter. I go to rehab at the gym, can visit friends for a brew friends visit me and I can go with them on a walk and meet up at places for lunch. It’s amazing what gardening you can do from a mobility scooter too
Go on get out and do things

I seem to only leave the house for medical appointments recently. I will be out early tomorrow morning for a GP appointment.

May I say housebound doesn’t sound so bad for some, more so
for those who speak of ‘we’.

Housebound is hell if you live alone, husband dead, adored elder daughter dead, younger daughter 500 miles away . Grandchildren moved away following their mother’s death by
suicide. Your friends too have died.

You can’t even go out to your garden, you become invisible, you will never again have a holiday or even a day out. Your carer comes for one hour 6 days a week, the only person you see. You depend on GransNet for company.

Just as well be tied in the attic .

So please don’t get too comfortable staying indoors , do go out
of your house . I speak as someone who loved climbing mountains, walking miles, attending Church, being a member
of various local groups.

For you Polnan ?

Before Covid, I loved nothing more than being out and about. Meeting up with friends and family. Unfortunately, I’ve become a bit of a recluse. Hate the thought of going out alone. It hasn’t helped that my beautiful dog died recently too. ?
I’m lucky I have Mr S. who encourages me to go out with him. I feel so sad for those of you who are alone, and feeling unable to go out. Let’s all keep trying!

polnan

I am on my own for the last 2 years since I was born, and I struggle to deal with it, sort myself out.. Please help!

I don`t have many relatives or close friends, and they are all busy,, I have been getting out, then succumbed to depression, so now off them after 7 days as I was worse taking them, than not taking them.

wish someone had a magic wand for me.. and others..

Hi Polnan,

It’s a bit strange taking anti-depressants isn’t it? But they can work, if you can give it a month or so for them to work. If you are staying home, it’s a good time to take them - no surprises when you’re out and about, as some can cause side effects.

Happy to have a chat if you would like - please do message me ??

Hi Charleygirl,

I’m in NW London also, in Harrow. May I ask where you meet for coffee?

I live alone and if I don't go out for a walk every day I can get quite down.
Sometimes it feels like an effort to get ready and go
out but it really is worth it.
So sorry Fanny and some others are unable to go out. I will think of you when I am making excuses to myself to stay in. ?????

Fanny I can get out but feel less motivated every day.
Walking is difficult as I'm waiting to see the orthopaedic surgeon (goodness knows how long that will be).
I really need to find some motivation

Hi #measwell! I hardly go anywhere any more specially since our little dog died 3weeks ago, I used to walk him every single day for 13.5. Years, and am ashamed to say I've not been out for morning walk ONCE in last 3weeks!? Housebound always sounds as if you're tied up in the attic!? I've come to realise that we used to 'go out' for the sake of it and spent so very much money on junk we neither needed nor eventually wanted! We've saved a ton of dosh and now I'm starting to think about maybe a luxury break next year , maybe to a European city as we used to like, but 5stars this time! There's always something that tempts you out eventually and there's nothing wrong with being a home bird,mwe have a lovely home as I'm sure you do and why not just enjoy it?