Shopping for my elderly father

March 19, 2020 9:03 AM

I volunteered to shop for my father in case he couldn't get Safeway or Instacart to deliver in a timely fashion. I'm trying to figure out delivery of said produce right now. Should he drive here so I can unload into his trunk, or should I deliver them to his door?

His preference is to drive to me and then back home. There wouldn't be any stops along the way and I know he's getting a little antsy being at home all the time. If that's safe I'd definitely be ok with it, but want to know if I should push to just directly deliver them to his door. We wouldn't be in contact either way, but I'm not sure how much risk there is from a walk down his apartment hallway, then a short elevator ride to his car. If there is better, safe approach I'd do that, but also can understand him wanting to drive a little and it potentially being ok.

posted by Carillon to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

One thing I'm worried about with my parents is any germs that might be on the shopping bags/food. It might be good if he can wash his hands after bringing the bags in his apartment (and leave some things to unload a day later if they're not perishable). So from that perspective, it might be better if you deliver them, unless he's planning to wear gloves. If he might be in the elevator with another person, that also doesn't seem ideal.
posted by pinochiette at 9:15 AM on March 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

I am doing this for an uncle this weekend. My plan is to leave the food at his door and run.

The more he has to drive his car, the greater the likelihood he has to refill his gas tank, and touch a pump touched by many others.
posted by instead of three wishes at 9:16 AM on March 19, 2020

I completely understand him wanting to get out and go for a drive, we're all getting stir crazy here too. A good compromise might be to buy all the groceries and then wipe everything down with Lysol wipes that can be wiped down and wash any produce and then leave it for him to pick up off the porch or something and he can also wipe everything down and wash everything at his house when he gets home too. This is what we've been doing and it's working pretty well I think.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 9:23 AM on March 19, 2020 [3 favorites]