Thread by @AWOCUK

New Report ‘“A lonely place to be”
#AgeingWithoutChildren and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic’ Based on our survey earlier this year. Read press release & links here: awwoc.org/about-3-1 #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 1/

“We have been forgotten, ignored and marginalised......There was no-one stood at the bottom of our garden path waiting anxiously to be reunited with us when lockdown lifted.
It is a lonely place to be.” #AWOCCovid19 2/

“Living alone all the time (before the pandemic) I think people think you're "doing ok" in #lockdown because it's just the same as usual for you” #AgeingWithoutChildren #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 3/

“The CONSTANT reports about people missing contact with their families most has made we without families more #invisible than ever, and on a personal level, has emphasised how far outside the perceived norm I am” #AgeingWithoutChildren #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 4/

“It would be useful to see additional narratives & examples where people acknowledge that being alone is sometimes inevitable -or perhaps even desired - & that there are ways to thrive as a strong & valuable individual without family connection.” #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 5/

“I’m fed up with being patronised about #technology by friends who have children to help them keep up.” And this blog about #DigitalDivide & #AWOC written last year by @awocconsult ageingwithoutchildrenconsultancy.com/2020/03/27/cov… #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 6/

(I was upset) “seeing people out locally with their families when I haven’t been allowed to see friends”
“For me, the main deprivation was social – not being able to see friends in the normal way, shutdown of groups and organisations” #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 7/

“Not being able to support my Mum emotionally in her #carehome for over a year. The decline in her mental & physical health…I can’t help thinking about what would have happened to me in the same circumstances - I have no kids so who would be worrying about me?” #AWOCCovid19 8/

“Brought home my vulnerability and how few people there are who would look out for me. Having felt quite independent previously, it's difficult to ask for help.” #AgeingWithoutChildren #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 9/

“#Lockdown has been a great leveller. The minority of us with no family at all, have ended up in the same boat as everyone else! With the easing of restrictions, the disparity becomes more obvious as life returns to ‘normal’” #AWOCCovid19 #ALonelyPlaceToBe 10/

‘the pandemic has highlighted the #invisibility of those who do not have children to support them in times of crisis & need. The assumption is that children & families will step in to help their older relatives…for many #olderpeople this simply isn’t the case.” @awocconsult 11/1

“…some #LocalAuthorities are putting the needs of those #AgeingWithoutChildren as a core part of their planning for #olderpeople, & we urge anyone working with older people to look at how they approach those who do not have the support of children or families” @PaulGoulden 12/

‘There is a free toolkit produced by the @NCFCareForum to help organisations become more #AWOC aware & this is would be a great for anyone looking to change their way of supporting those #ageingwithoutchildren’ @PaulGoulden nationalcareforum.org.uk/projects/agein… #AWOCCovid19 12/

“We have been forgotten, ignored and marginalised......There was no-one stood at the bottom of our garden path waiting anxiously to be reunited with us when lockdown lifted.
It is #ALonelyPlaceToBe”#AWOCCovid19 13/end