Page 12 - Community Living Magazine 34-1

lockdown life
Part of the family

As Covid-19 restrictions threatened social care, Liz Callaghan
feared for her adult son, who needed regular support. Then
her daughter’s family – with four children – stepped in

oronavirus was beginning to take a and lockdown led to protocols never before
stronger grip on Scottish considered. These were drawn up urgently
Ccommunities and our day-to-day life and became new, mandatory practice.
was changing in ways we had not
experienced before. Panic buying went The ‘what if?’ talk
through the roof amid uncertainty on so The impact on our family gave us
many levels about the future. great cause for concern, and we had
As a mum of a 38-year-old man with to think about how my son might
learning and physical disabilities, I was continue to be supported in ways
beginning to feel tremors within the we had hoped we would never have to
social care sector. What would this mean think about. Safe solution
for Mark’s* support in the immediate Like many other families, we stay in The week before lockdown, we bit the
future – and could it be sustained in the regular contact, and this was particularly bullet and decided on what we thought
long term? so during this uncertain time. My was the best possible solution for
Coronavirus was having a huge impact daughter Susan* and I had been in everyone to keep Mark safe.
on the support people relied on daily and regular contact with the care organisation Susan and her family had already been
generally within the care sector; it was and, over recent weeks, had isolating for more than two weeks since
beginning to take its toll. started to consider the “what if?” coming back from their holiday. It was
For some people who relied on their conversation about Mark’s support. obvious they did not have the virus and
support workers for all aspects of daily What if Mark gets sick? Who would had been talking as a family about the
living, life was beginning to be shaped on care for him? possibility of Mark going to stay with
a day-to-day basis by the latest What if his team gets sick? Who would them until this crisis was over. They felt he
government advice and take over his support? could be safe there.
recommendations. What if his support I was speaking with my daughter just
Planning for lockdown organisation has to use after a conversation with a colleague who
for people with other people to had informed me that other people with
learning disabilities support him – could learning disabilities who had been
and/or autism who they be infected admitted to hospital with Covid-19 were
depend on their and risk taking second place behind other people
teams for support infecting him? admitted to intensive care who were
creates so many What if I needed displaying less serious symptoms.
uncertainties and to take over his This shook me. The NHS has always had
disruptions to support? Would the authority to play God, deciding who
daily routines. I be safe from was most worthy of life. When critical
For some, this infection? situations arise and choices have got be
disruption can What if I, mum, have made, they have to make those decisions.
have catastrophic the virus? Would I be When there is only one liver but two
consequences and lead to putting him at greater risk? people are in desperate need, how do you
behaviour that stems from their lack What if we rotated his care and choose? I really don’t know. I only know I
of understanding of the restrictive support with his family members – would couldn’t do that job.
situation we all found ourselves in. that be safe for him? Susan said: “Mam, let’s just do it. Let’s
What if…? get him packed up and he is coming to live
Daily uncertainty There were so many what ifs. with us. It makes sense and the best thing
Mark has his own tenancy and receives to do for everyone.”
24/7 support. The organisation that I remember my thoughts.
supports him was doing its very best to None of this is easy, totally the “I’m the only one that can do that. I
put in place safe practice for everyone’s opposite – it’s exhausting. should look after him. I know him best.”
benefit, keeping teams of support However, they are embracing “I need to protect Susan.”
workers and my son safe. “This is too much for her to take on.”
They were learning every day – like the it and sharing with me “How will they cope with their four kids
rest of the world – with the uncertainty of gems of moments and Mark?”
what tomorrow might bring. New rules, This was a huge thing they were
legislation, parliamentary bills, isolation committing to do.

12 Vol 34 No 1 | Autumn 2020 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk