It is such a relief to see life finally returning to some kind of normality after a year and a half, on and off, of restrictions and worry due to the Pandemic. Staying away from our loved ones has been very challenging and it is a beautiful thing to see everyone able to reunite once again, across the generations.
This virus has taken away so many of the opportunities for connection, which we all used to take for granted. Now as we come out of the worst of it, it is time to start taking back these special moments – as safely as possible.
After the last of the lockdown restrictions were finally abolished on the 19th July here in the UK, we have been able to once again take part in family gatherings, weddings and celebrations and meeting up with our loved ones both outdoors and even indoors.
If you have elderly relatives who are extremely clinically vulnerable, you may wish to still take some extra care to ensure everyone’s safety and avoid any higher level of risk when getting together. Grandparents over 70 or 80 years old are at a much higher risk or complications or a bad outcome if they do catch this virus, so it only makes sense to take the risks into consideration when planning a meet up.
One of the best ways to keep everyone safe and mitigate any of the risks with the family get togethers is to meet up outdoors.
During the summer holidays, this has been the perfect season to meet with the grandparents outside where the fresh air and wide open spaces mean that there is very little risk of any transmissions between one another.
Family picnics at a beach or country park are a great day out to suit all ages. This is especially true when you have special favourites which don’t get too busy. Avoid the most well known and popular spots and stick to somewhere a little more understated and off the beaten path.
If your grandparents or elderly relatives need assistance with walking on this type of day trip, then don’t forget to travel with a wheelchair accessible car to make the day go smoothly for everyone involved.
Bringing along hand sanitiser, or asking each family member to bring their own supplies for the picnic are a couple more simple suggestions which can help provide peace of mind for the very vulnerable.
The basic act of hand washing is also very effective. I’m sure we all remember the advice from the beginning of the Pandemic and the first lockdown in March 2020 to wash your hands thoroughly to the length of singing “happy birthday” – and this advice still stands to this day.
The wearing of face masks is also a possibility to consider, especially if you are meeting up with elderly relatives indoors and they suffer from a weakened immune system.
If you are in any doubt or have been suffering with any symptoms like a cough or feeling under the weather then it would be very important to postpone your get together to another date, in order not to take any unnecessary risks with your loved ones health.
Family contact is so important for our elderly, so whatever it takes to go ahead safely it is brilliant to be able to find a way and go ahead with the visit. It may not be easy navigating this new post-Covid world but each chance to see their loved ones will surely lift the grandparents spirits, and of course it is a great opportunity for the younger ones too so that we can all cherish the times we have left with each other.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.