In the time of nearly four weeks so far, during the Covid19 lockdown in New Zealand.
I am fortunate to take up my role as an essential deaf worker under the social service and Disability Organisation around Waikato.
I work from home and my workplace in the city of Hamilton while the other jobs are taking people with disabilities to do groceries shopping, banking, social outings and many other outings.
BUT we are in the lockdown in the crisis of Covid19, and some of the workers are luckily to work under essential services throughout the four stages of Level during the lockdown. I am one of the essential workers, and I choose to assist people with disabilities, a small number of Deaf people who need their help over bills, broadband, where to find food parcels and Deaf elderly people.
In my car, I have a couple letters from my workplaces when there is a police check in on the main road, my work Id badge, mileage along with a diary, pen, hand sanitiser, gloves and mask. Of course plenty of shopping bags.
My day of the job, I have a shower plus wash my face after breakfast and check any items required to bring to the persons I am meeting, their shopping lists from our faxes and emails event texts, ensure there are enough shopping bags, two mobiles and my bag. I head out to the city of Hamilton on a beautiful morning even in the early hours before waiting in the long queue at the choice of the supermarkets. Some days at the supermarket, it is an excellent time to go in straight away than other days it was approximately 15-30 minutes waiting.
Often I see any items on the shelves are bare such as flour, baking powder, yeast, popular large ice creams, loaves of bread and I found it hard to believe how on earth people grabbed the whole bulk without leaving for other people such as elderly people or people with disabilities who really need these essential items. Some days, I know when I will be able to get the pieces for the persons I am supporting or go through online shopping. I always double-checked 3-4 shopping lists before leaving the supermarket along with my pen. Yes, it is tiring for me as other staff are not allowed to put our items in the trolley BUT one supermarket like New World – there are small number of staff who willing to put things in cart if they wear disposable gloves. Walking back to my car, I packed items in separate shopping bags for each of the persons I will be visiting. The receipts of each persons’ shopping request, I take the photo for my record before handing over the to clients when they pay me cash money in the envelope before handing over to me or do online banking if they can do it. It is called reimburse which I kept a record of spending for each people I shopped for them.
Arriving at the person’s home, I deliver to their doorstep and ring the flashing light doorbell and wait outside within 1.5m to 2m. The person greeted me with a smiling face for they are happy to see me and have a quick chat if they are okay, need some help in the future, what is the good news coming up from the television or how the weather is. Each of the people I meet, they hated being staying at home and walk around the garden or down the street. I understand their annoying and frustrated. One person with Deaf, CP and speech impaired, I gave him 3 sets of zig saw puzzles to keep him busy. The cash money handed in the sealed envelope and other requests they wish me to get some or to pay the bills through online banking from my home before dropping in the shopping bag so I collected. Moving on to the next person’s home and next person’s home before heading back to our home at last. I keep track of the mileage from one person’s house to another person’s home in my diary for our workplace was lucky to have the Government funding which the director applied for the funding earlier.
Arriving home at the rural mailboxes if the person I am supporting want me to post the mail, drop off and I collect our letters. Head over to our gate with a friendly toot to inform my partner and our three dogs know that I am home at last.
Arriving the courtyard before entering the house, I removed my shoes and leave on top of the shelf for our young pup loves to chew anything. I go straight to the room and get change clothes. I put the clothes I wore straight to the washing machine and had another shower because we essential workers must not have any community transmittal any virus to another person in the same bubble of the household. I do self-isolate for a couple of hours even I go outside and walk with our dogs where we have a large property here.
Some days, I was passing along the street from one person I am supporting, came across something that brings out amusing anyone in the street. What a great idea! This photo brings me to smile and reflecting my past as a childhood.
I resume working by catching up emails, notices from the Government, Ministry of Health, following up enquiries and checking on social media such as Facebook.
My faithful dogs are lying beside me while I am working in the office. We do have the other dog, but the third dog chooses to sleep in the lounge next to the office here.
This blog is my daily life as an essential deaf worker.
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