I’ve got a friend who’s isolating for the next week so that he can take care of a loved one when they have surgery. People are sent home too quickly after surgery & often require near round the clock care… and finding Covid safe homecare is a nearly insurmountable struggle /1

As a result - my friend agreed to isolate for just over a week so he could be reasonably certain he was Covid free and help his loved one recover. Recovering from surgery is painful and stressful at the best of times - one doesn’t need the threat of Covid as well /2

This person has a degree of privilege to be able to do this. He’s able to work remotely as much as he needs. He can afford delivery services. He doesn’t share housing with anyone or have children. He has paid time off for when he’s actively caregiving. /3

There was ONE stumbling block - medications. He thought they could be delivered & it turned out they couldn’t. He called the pharmacy to see if they could do curbside so he wouldn’t need to be in a crowded & poorly ventilated space. /4

He was bracing for pushback. Most places haven’t done Curbside in years and if you say you need it due to Covid concerns you’re more likely to get laughed at than accommodated. Imagine his surprise when the pharmacist enthusiastically said she would bring it to his car! /5

This person then offered her personal cell number (they’re in a small town) in case my friend couldn’t make it during business hours - and said she would come back and get it for him if it came to that. My friend was stunned by this act of kindness. /6

He ended up telling her about his sick loved one - and about how he needs to isolate for their safety. They exchanged anecdotes about all the people currently ill from Covid and how few are masking - as well as how hard it is to avoid getting sick in hospital. /7

He offered a box of free respirators which the pharmacist gladly accepted to give out to sick patients (always carry extras if you can afford to do so!) It was the kind of random act of kindness that doesn’t happen often but makes your entire week better /8

With that said - what about all the people who don’t have the privilege my friend has? The people who have to rely on government provided homecare (or none at all) after surgery? Who don’t have a safe place to go when they’re discharged from the hospital? /9

Who can’t afford good quality respirators, air purifiers, tests and transportation? Who are exposed at the hospital because the staff aren’t masking and they don’t have an advocate to fight for them? Or who are exposed at home by a caregiver who isn’t taking precautions? /10

The truth is more people will fall into those categories than will be lucky enough to have safe full time care like what my friend is providing. And it shouldn’t be that way. People shouldn’t have to fear covid when they need surgery. /11

They shouldn’t have to fear that they will be discharged home without adequate support in place. They shouldn’t have to provide hospital staff with respirators and bring their own purifiers just to have a CHANCE at getting through the hospitalization without infection /12

We are failing to protect our most vulnerable. While I’m glad my friend is willing and able to provide vital caregiving services to his loved one - my heart is heavy for all the people who don’t have anyone to fill that role. /13

COVID is causing record increases in disability & is disabling healthcare & homecare workers. More and more people are in need of support and we have fewer and fewer people to fill the roles. The result is needless suffering, preventable infection & worsening disability /14

We need a robust safety net for disabled people. Better social and financial supports, covid mitigation and equitable access to home care. We need masks and clean air in hospitals. We need to ensure we aren’t discharging patients into unsafe situations. /15

Until then - you can help by wearing a mask and cleaning your air. You can do everything you can to break chains of transmission. You can offer a random act of kindness like the pharmacist offered my friend. You can give out free respirators and rapid tests to people in need /16

Finally - if you’re in a position to be an advocate or caregiver to someone in the hospital (or upon discharge)… please do it. Having someone we can count on for support means the world to us. Take as many Covid mitigations as you can so you can keep us (and yourself) safe /end