Lonely great-grandmother tells family she “wants to die” after 8 months in isolation
<p>A lonely great-grandmother has broken her family’s heart when she admitted she “just wants to die” after spending eight months isolated in a care home during the pandemic.</p>
<p>Relatives told reporters that their beloved, sweet grandma Doreen Tilly was “full of life” when she celebrated her 100th birthday at the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown.</p>
<p>However, after months away from loved ones, the great-grandmother, who lives in a home in Scotland, has made a heartbreaking admission that she doesn’t want to live any longer.</p>
<p>Doreen’s family told the <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/i-just-want-die-scots-22975283" target="_blank">Daily Record</a> </em>they are “devastated” at her deterioration since March.</p>
<p>Sonia Dixon, 37, said: “The difference in my nan is just devastating to see.</p>
<p>“Before, she was full of life and thrived on regular visits from her family.</p>
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<p>“While she has outlived her own two children, she has eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, almost all of whom live in the area.”</p>
<p>The UK Government has said it will review its approach to visiting people in care homes when England’s second national lockdown comes to an end.</p>
<p>However Sonia said the government’s response is not enough and the enforced separation has been too much for her great-grandmother.</p>
<p>“I can’t bear for this to go on any longer,” she said.</p>
<p>“I’m watching her fade away with the loneliness – she has told me she just wants to die during the outdoor visits that I have been allowed.</p>
<p>“She has become really down and has been prescribed antidepressants for the first time in her life at 100 years old.</p>
<p>“People in care homes should have legal rights to see their families properly and I’d support any move to make it happen.”</p>
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<p>Retired pub manager Doreen is a resident at care firm HC-One’s Woodside Court Care Home in Fife.</p>
<p>Sonia, a mum-of-one, said the family was offered “very limited indoor visits” for one person – or more outdoor visits for additional people.</p>
<p>“In the end, we had to go with the outdoor socially distanced visits so Nan could see all of her family,” she said.</p>
<p>“For someone who is 100, surely it should be up to them how much they see family members.</p>
<p>“The home say they are just following the rules but, between them and the Scottish Government, they need to get this sorted out.”</p>
<p>Doreen’s plea to reunite with her family follows just weeks after another Fife care home resident, 104-year-old Mary Fowler, was recorded begging to see loved ones again.</p>
<p>Mary, who lives in the Balfarg Care Home, has only seen her children briefly through a window since March.</p>
<p>In her message, she said: “It’s cutting me to bits.</p>
<p>“I must see my kids, because time is getting on for me.</p>
<p>“I must see my children and make things like they used to be.</p>
<p>“Please help me. Help me. Please, please help.”</p>
<p>In October, Scotland relaxed the rules of visiting residents.</p>
<p>Indoor visits are no longer limited to 30 minutes and can instead last up to four hours.</p>
<p>Visitors were also allowed to hold hands with residents as long as they followed COVID rules.</p>
<p>Six visitors from two households, including children, were able to attend outdoor visits which can last up to one hour.</p>
<p>However, new five-tier rules came into force in Scotland last Monday.</p>
<p>Where Doreen lives, residents aren’t allowed to meet anyone who isn’t in their household indoors inside a home.</p>
<p>Bosses at care company HC-One said: “Our caring colleagues know every resident in our homes and many relatives.</p>
<p>“They understand how important visiting is and how difficult it is for all those who have missed out on precious moments over recent months.</p>
<p>“While this is a challenging time for everyone, we must all work together to protect residents.</p>
<p>“With safety at the forefront of everything we do, a very difficult balancing act needs to be achieved which considers the health and wellbeing of all residents and the threat of coronavirus.”</p>
