Some quality unscheduled down time. Love it AND what’s more I still get all my paid leave entitlements once work starts back. What’s there to complain about?

We've been fortunate in that only 2 weeks since Covid began, have we had to wear masks. The rest of the time it's supposed to be social distancing, but not many people are too worried around my area.

I'm totally fine being at home. Sometimes we walk to the shops, for the benefit of my little one who likes to explore. But we've found lots of things to do indoors even though we're stuck in a small appartment we walk around the hallways for exercise. We also do online dance classes, learn languages do craft, grow plants, baking etc. I actually feel there's not enough time to do all the things we want, too much fun. All our family is interstate or overseas so we have no one here to visit anyway. I think there should be things in place for those who don't have anyone to check in or care for them. It is important to reach out to others as I know not everyone is handling this situation as well as some.

Luckily we are not under lockdown in Perth, but I feel for everyone that is i

So sad to hear that elderly gentleman died, could happen to any of us who live alone. Only thing I am sorry about is I hadn't finished seeing all the world but think very lucky to do what I did.

In this lockdown as in the previous one try to walk most days to enjoy the sunshine, feed the ducks & make the best of the situation by being positive knowing that this will pass.

Keep busy is the best things to do we can do a day. Look after our community old and young to see ok. I don't go out just once a week for shopping. Be thankful each day being with love one and always a phone called away to talk to them or Skype face to face.

WE are not stuck at home...we are safe at home

Iam not in lock down, but keep an eye on the elderly in my community as we still have to be careful. The hardest for me is my family serve in the defence force and I haven’t seen any family for nearly 2 years. I was looking after my father but he passed away ( not Covid). I think all the comments are wonderful your all doing great, as long as we are safe healthy and as happy as can be. Keep up the excellent work everyone, our elderly, homeless, and those that need a hand, or just a friendly hello, are great full for such a caring people

Don’t think I have left my apartment for a month now and not spoken to anyone but that is the way of the world nowadays.

Stuck at home with my lovely wife. Life is tough!

Quite a few years ago now, i noticed a neighbour's papers were still on the front lawn. He was an avid better, ex-jockey who loved to follow the horses and have a flutter. He never missed collecting his paper. We notified the police who found him dead in his chair with the TV still on. We hope he had a bet on a long shot and had won a large amount. We hoped he'd had a heart attack and died without pain due to the shock of winning. (We don't actually know how he died though.) As for the current world situation.I have barely left the house for months now. There are too many self centered, selfish people living around here so going for walks in the neighbourhood or park does not leave me feeling safe due to other's behaviour. I do not have skype nor zoom. I chat to friends most days by text/sms or online messenger services. I have not had pets for over 20 years now and find that in itself very lonely. I think it is important to stay in contact with neighbours, especially those who may not have access to family/friends or those who tend to not be very social.Even a little note in the letter box or a little posy of flowers from your garden left on their doorstep could brighten their day and make them feel not so lonely.

I had an aunt die in the UK and she was found because a neighbour hadn't seen her walking her little dog. I had an elderly lady neighbour I would keep an eye on from time to time. We are living rurally now so no neighbours close by. 30 year olds are dying in their homes due to CoVid. It's affecting us all in one way or another. I spend most of the day on here, or reading, cooking, house work, I enjoy puzzles. I'd be doing this any way a real home body I am. Hubby out mowing the grass, whipper snipping the weeds down. ATM we have been chasing a mouse around the house Darn cat. It's still in here but we have lost it for the 5 time today. Hubby said it's okay I'll set a mouse trap and we put a bait down. Silly dog not quick enough again. Oh the joys of country living can't beat it. Edited 18-Sep-21 15:27pm

Luckily where I live in NZ we are able to move around as long as we social distance and mask up when visiting shops,cafes,bars etc and are not confined to our homes unlike my fellow NZer's who live in Auckland so I really feel for them and fingers crossed they move down the levels next week.

I think everyone have to adopt current situation. There are many hard moments in our life and you should do whatever is available and what you like. For me the biggest problem is with kids. Very hard to explain to them all these new rules of life.

Home life hasn’t changed but the amount of travel we do has

I dont mind being home.yes

I love being home.

I'm pretty much at home nowdays, due to retirement.

I do a lot of things during the day to keep busy and try not to be bored. I do have housework but live in a small place. I like to cook and find new healthy recipes, I do photography (although not recently of course) and I recently tried graphic design/drawing, I read, watch docos, play games, water my plants etc. As for the elderly I feel like people don't know their neighbours at all these days. When I was younger I remember we used to have an elderly gentleman who lived alone next door. We gave him our number so he could call at any time if he needed assistance. We used to visit him as well for company and I'd even be there alone and sit with him. I was so young at the time so didn't really think to ask him about much unfortunately. When he passed away I was pretty sad, his son was grateful to us for keeping him company when he couldn't be there.

home with my wife - we have a thousand things to do in the house, the garden, on-line, and tv!

My only comment is: It’s better being stuck at home, than getting or spreading the COVID-19 virus

I went back to Uni to study. I wanted to achieve something over this period that I could see. I also wanted to set and example for my daughter who is in her senior years at Secondary school and locked down. We yell about homework together. Very bonding and she sees me struggle and understands that you’ve just gotta keep going and you’ll get there somehow.

Due to a chronic illness and disability I find myself at home a huge amount of time. I'm not in lockdown currently. But living a life of being homebound a lot of the time I have come to learn what helps to pass time. I love art and crafts - paint pouring, making earrings, adult colouring, diamond-dotting, jigsaw puzzles, online scrabble, and doing online surveys. Rewardia is great because they have a variety of games and puzzles to play for points as well as survey incentives. Apart from that I watch TV and stare at our amazing view as I live by the beach. So lockdown doesn't feel too cumbersome for me as it means I get company when my partner has to work from home.

yes we must help everybody

Stuck at home isn't bad if you have a backyard. Even better if you have a dog or two. Pity those who live in units.

Sick of being at home and not visiting friends and family

I do Rewardia surveys and play Rewardia games all day long! (grin!)

When we moved to our present home there was an elderly gentleman in the next house. We introduced ourselves and as I worked from my studio in the back yard, I noticed one day that he had not put the blind up in his kitchen, so went and knocked on the door to see if he was alright. He had had a bad night and decided to sleep in for a bit and had not long woken up. So we devised a plan that if he had not put his kitchen blind up by 11 am each morning then I would come in to check on him. Worked well for us and him until he moved into a nursing home. Looking after the elderly in their own home is relatively simple but people these days just don't take the time. Once we really got to know him, I often cooked a meal for him, just let him know in the morning. He loved lamb roasts, so that was a weekly meal in our house. His daughter came to visit once a week on a Friday, she came on one bus, bought him a pie for his lunch, and left on the next bus. She was home full time. Such a pity. Edited 18-Sep-21 11:43am

I do surveys and make my pocket money

To be honest I was a stay at home type before this virus anyway. My husband and I are quite happy to just hang out together at home. Neither one of us is into travelling, going out partying etc so nothing much has changed for us. We both volunteer twice a week and usually go out to shop twice a week. Occasionally we might visit our sons or grandchildren. We both exercise every day. There's an area in our house with a treadmill, elliptical trainer, exercise bike and a sit up bench. I try and do an hour a day, mostly on the treadmill and bench. The rest of our time we watch TV or do housework or just have fun together stirring each other up for a laugh. We both use our computers a fair bit and I do surveys. We've only had a few short lockdowns here in Adelaide and the only differences were that only one of us could go to the shop and we weren't able to do our volunteer work. It didn't bother us being home. I'm lucky we are both compatible and don't get stressed out if we are stuck at home together.

As like you do, i make sure to go for a walk every day and say hello to people along the way. My next door elderly neighbor was also found passed away, not sure for how long before he was found. But he didnt like company, just a wave, so that was sad. I think his only daughter should have spent more time with him and looked after him better, as she lived 5 minutes up the road. If my parents were alive, i would take care of them.I

I'm an essential worker so I have to go to work. It is hard for older people that don't have family.

I have a very busy house even that I am a senior. My oldest son and his two children live with me. My youngest son, wife and three children live with me. One of my daughters is living here too. Together we have 3 dogs, four cats and two turtles. Kids coming and going from elementary and high schools. My youngest son is working from home. We do housework, yardwork and are getting ready to put down wood floors and paint. I like crossword puzzles and we all play video games. We have movie night with the kids. We have game night. We swim day and night. There are times when I wish for a dull moment! There are two other seniors on our street. We watch a house for the travelers who go north for the summer and we check on the old gentleman down the street. His Grandson comes to see him twice a week too.

It is sad that animals are abandoned and I believe unnecessarily. Most people would rather buy an iphone than put the money to feeding a pet. Unfortunately there are selfish people who put money towards things that are really not necessary than keep that money and put it towards a pet that they chose to adopt. I hope children will grow up and learn to love all animals and when they decide to take care of one it is for life.

Felt very sad reading the responses. it's a very difficult time for a lot of people including me. I am a retired teacher and have been doing private tutoring -children have been affected quite badly with the remote learning-nothing like face to face teaching. I don't think enough thought has been put into the outcomes of all the lockdowns we have experienced here in Victoria. I have a sister in an Aged Care Facility who hasn't seen any family for months. Her mental state is deteriorating quite badly. It's all very well for the Politicians to say they know it's hard but they are still earning their big salaries and are out and about everyday. I try to keep busy with craft work and exercise.but some days it just doesn't help.

I spend a lot of time in my garden and also looking after my mothers garden and her other than that not much on saturdays I watch horse racing on the TV

Crosswords and books for me Suzy.

I work from home, so life under lockdown has been pretty much the same for me. I do notice, though, that when I am out walking there are a lot more people out walking their dogs during lockdowns

I do feel for the elderly who don't have a lot of family or family close by. As for me I try to keep busy and clean the house regularly throughout the week just to past the time. Going through cupboards and donating to charities items that I haven't used for a long time. Play on the computer and spend a lot of my time with my little dog whom I refer to as my fur baby, she is so spoilt and I would be lost without her.

Hey I am the elderly at 88 and still keep active and my family regularly check on me

Because of my age - I do not have any legitmately complaints - because I am still above ground and I am not in a hospital with slim chances of recovering from covid19. Bitter - YES. I walk every day to burn off my bitterness! I am bitter - because this time suppose to be my golden years - a virus (covid19) - is truly impeding me from enjoying life in the most mudanely ways!

My heart goes out to all those oldies who can not leave home because of lockdown, and those who are alone, Yes I know It's getting hard to do anything now, but hang in there You know -one thing I do if I'm tire of sitting in front of my computer I sing whatever song that comes to my mind My wife says stop singing you have a horrible voice but I laugh and keep on singing All the best oldies

I always at home is because I can't find work outside the home which I just sells Avon to customers at home. I wish I have a job outside of the home someday.

The whole aged-care sector needs a complete overhaul, as Covid pointed out.Edited 20-Sep-21 02:23am

I think that you bring up a very good point, one that is relevant regardless of whether their is a lockdown for whatever reason or not. I find myself at home alone although not entirely alone as I have my 3 "senior citizen" felines whom I adore and a much younger mother, cat although due to the circumstances regarding her rescue we have no idea of her age, but she's not very old I feel. Then there's her one little kitten who is not so little now as he's almost a year old, but he and his mother came to me when he was a day old and I could hold him in my palm. Because he was the only one of the litter that survived, his mother had been trapped in a series of vacant shops until someone passed by and saw her looking sad and heavily pregnant. One was stillborn and the other had to be put down at the Vet's as it was malformed. But Claude, the kitten, because his mother lost her milk early, had to be syringe fed by me for several weeks while Rosie, his mum, watched closely. So even though they are fosters technically, there are SO many new kittens born every day and so many animals being surrendered because their owners can't afford to feed them, that this will be their "forever home".I ache for the elderly who have had to surrender their pets going into Nursing Homes especially when both are heartbroken at the separation. I mention this because animals are a great conversation starter. I've sat around a table with 2 spinster sisters, both now deceased, who gained great joy in telling me about the 20 cats they fled from Sydney with and the many more that found a loving, though crowded home, with 2 old ladies in poor health and VERY lonely for company and they SO enjoyied the visits As Suzy Q said, even with different forms of technology that provide us an opportunity to physically sit down and talk AND see our loved ones by Skype and even though I can attend church due to Zoom, we are social creatures that wither when we're away from human contact for long and I mean being PRESENT in the same room. Dying of a broken heart isn't a euphemism but an actual diagnosis when someone dies because all hope dies inside and the heart just stops beating. Babies in orphanages who were adequately nourished and were kept warm and had their nappies changed fairly regularly still died because they "failed to thrive" because without the love of a parent or ANYONE who cared on a deeper level they just faded away. I mention this because the elderly and the disabled who live independently at home but recieve no regular visitors, experience it to. I know of many cases from the community I used to live in of the elderly dying at home because the person who was SUPPOSED to phone and check in on the person didnt and in one instance that lady had been dead for 10 days of the 12 days she'd been away on a little HOLIDAY. Her poor dog , the dead one, was almost dead by then too and I heard from the Police Officer from the scene that they thought the Vet would have to put the poor creature down.I don't know if the dog had started eating his deceased owner by that stage, but I know of another case of an elderly man who succommed at home alone and was found many days after death and he HAD bb even eating him. THE heater was still on in the home and it wasn't something those officers forgot! I believe his loyal companion was dead beside the poor man, waiting for someone to knock on the door or go around the side of the property to see if a window was open that they might see something I nside from. How sad to be decomposing at home all the while your newspapers are not being collected from the front step and mail is piling up in the letterbox and a poor defenceless dog is grieving the loss of the human they love and who loved them and all the while people are saying "Oh I wonder if Mr Smith has gone away for a bit. I know he's got the dog which we havent seen and Mr M only has one leg, but that's it. He's probably forgotten to cancel the paper. Now are you going bowling next Tuesday Val?" and Mr Smith is forgotten. If, like the woman who went on a vacation, DO NOT want the responsibility of picking up the phone daily and if you get NO reply 2 days in a row, call the Police to organise a Welfare Check. It doesn't take much. If this is too difficult then SAY SO so that alternative arrangements can be made. I am NOT being facetious but I AM being blunt because, ESPECIALLY now, there are MORE lonely people trapped in homes that have become cells and solitary confinement for them. I have heard of at least 6 cases in the last few months where people have stopped going out of their home and been found dead after someone has called for a Welfare Check on them. My 82 year old father, who I've referenced in other comments, lives in a densely population LGA which has been locked down for months. He NEVER leaves his home now and if my children and I didn't phone him or email him he could be mummified at home by the time someone got around to checking the place out. I HAVE called for a Welfare Check to be done, even though he was ticked off with me for doing it, but at least I knew he was breathing! He's nearly blind, has 1 eye only and since a nasty fall that put him in hospital which he didn't tell me about because I h and a disability too and he didn't want me struggling to drive the 4 hours it would take me to get there.he now uses a walker to get around with thank God. But he is one man only and just like you can look at the forest and see ALL the trees, well there's that many people living alone, separated from loved ones near and far who would LOVE to know that someone was going to walk by their home at 10:30 am on Tuesday and drop off a small Tupperware container with a piece of fresh sponge cake or whatever, and say "How you doing today Lovey, lovely weather we're having etc and I'll be back Thursday for the container " and that interaction, regardless of how little it might take out of your day will get her through to Thursday and the next slice and one day Lovey will open the gate and invite you inside and maybe you can safely share a hug together! I don't mean to offend, and I apologise if I did, or am, but the elderly are not valued nor respected in our Anglo Saxon heritage culture in the way that other ethnic groups value them. I love elderly people and they have SO many stories to share and wisdom to pass on. I will always miss the elderly man I cared for for years and I see him when I hear horror stories of people being found trapped behind toilet doors after a fall and they're barely breathing when found all because we thought "they'll be ok today. I'll phone tomorrow ". Do BOTH of you a favour: phone today! Thank you.

I feel bad ya'll are still stuck at home. We are free to do what we want and have been for a while. When we were locked down we had a house full and made sure we kept each other company. The lockdowns are going to show they were worse than the pandemic all along.

I am an elderly lady living on my own and yes it is possible for me to not be found for a few days until someone thinks they have not seen me around. That's what happens sometimes with many elderly people. I am doing much the same as I was pre covid but keeping my distance, only shopping when I have to for necessities, and I do walk my little dog every 2-3 hours but only short walks as I have health issues, I read, do opinion polls and watch some TV. I have chores around the house which now takes me a long time so I just do a few at a time. I cook all my meals from scratch as well as my dogs. So not suffering from any mental issues nor am I bored or lonely. I guess it is a state of mind. If people fall into the trap of moaning about everything they will become disenchanted with everything. A positive attitude gives one a positive mind set. I agree Suzy Q, our little fur babies are great company and in many cases better than the two legged kind. It is sad though that people got little animals out of shelters etc. to amuse them in lockdown then decide they don't want them as it does not suit them anymore. Shameful.

With a job and 2 kiddos, I am always busy. When home, I like to unwind. Just relax and watch tv or movies. I love staying home with my family. As for the elderly who are alone, the pandemic is a sad scenario. Hopefully someone will look after them- neighbors and family.

I think the key word is 'home'. If you keep wanting to leave it, is it really a home. Here is a definition I found "Home is the abiding place of the affections"