• IT is heartening to see how quickly support for older people is spreading across Camden amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we are still waiting for government to formulate a clear action plan for older people, locally people are taking initiatives into their own hands.

Next-door, the online neighbourhood app, has seen a huge surge in members through its COVID support groups with offers to help self-isolating older adults in all kinds of ways: from grocery shops, pharmacy runs and dog walking to musicians offering their services (to play outside the homes of those isolated indoors).

Even local businesses are rethinking how they can offer their support too. Iceland on Kilburn High Road is now offering its first two shopping hours exclusively to older and more vulnerable customers.

There is thoughtfulness and kindness in these initiatives that, hopefully, can reach those older adults already isolated and harder-to-reach – as well as those with more complex needs.

Either way, this surge in local, positive caring energy needs to be sustained through this pandemic – and beyond.

It will only help reinforce the supportive social infrastructures that we all need to thrive, not just survive, within our local communities.

SOPHIE HANDLER
NW5 

Visit:

https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/when-you-can-volunteer

https://help.timetospare.com/camden

https://www.facebook.com/CovidAidUK/