Red Deer Village realises how difficult times are at the moment. The physical and mental impacts of COVID-19 can be very hard on everyone, including our residents and older citizens. Therefore, we are very proud of the support our neighbours have offered throughout the UK lockdown. It reinforces the community spirit of Red Deer Village, which is vital at this time. Neighbours within the village have offered each other so much support, even if it is as simple as collecting each other’s shopping.

Below we outline some of the ways the residents of our Glasgow over 50’s community have helped each other during this difficult time.

Veronica’s Glasgow Royal Infirmary collection

At the end of March, one of our very own residents, Veronica, began a collection of toiletries for COVID-19 patients in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Maintaining social distancing, she left a box at the end of her driveway with a sign asking residents to donate any spare items. The response was fantastic! In total, Veronica took 8 bags worth of donations to the hospital, which they were gratefully welcomed and appreciated by hospital workers. We’d like to thank our residents for their support and thank Veronica for the fantastic project idea.

Margaret’s 70th birthday

Quarantine may have curtailed Red Deer resident, Margaret’s 70th birthday celebrations, but her family had other ideas! One of her family members thought of the fantastic idea to giver her a drive by procession. Cars were adorned with balloons, cupcakes were fetched, and her family members stood by their own cars and sang “Happy Birthday” in unison whilst everyone stayed meters apart! Margaret was surprised and delighted to see her family on their social distance visit, and it was definitely a new way to celebrate in style! Take a look at the photo’s and video we captured below.

Supporting the NHS

We are forever grateful for the fantastic work the NHS and frontline workers are doing everyday to keep our local communities safe. Residents have been heard clapping for frontline workers on a Thursday evening at 8pm along with neighbours outside the park. We hope this helps raise morale and unites the community. Furthermore, rainbows in residents’ windows continue to highlight their support.

Community spirit

The community spirit is ever-present at Red Deer Village, our over 50’s retirement community on the outskirts of Glasgow. Even now when neighbours cannot interact with each other, many have come forward to help others around them who are less able. Some collect others’ food, medicine or prescriptions to prevent them having to go outside. Meanwhile, many residents have opted for grocery deliveries, so that they can continue shielding.

Keeping your mind and body active

Now more than ever, nature is so important! Getting outside for some daily exercise will keep both your mind and body active. The walks around Red Deer Village offer lots to explore and a new walking route daily! Residents can choose to walk through the neighbouring Cardowan Moss, Frankfield Loch or Hogganfield Loch, both of which are easily accessible from the park. Below is some of the beautiful natural scenery captured by residents during their daily walk!

Red Deer Village comes into bloom

The flowers at Red Deer Village have come into bloom, which means the park has been awash with colour over the past couple of weeks! We know how important having beautiful gardens to look out on has been for our residents, who have been able to admire the arrangements from their windows or during a daily walk.

We hope that we will all soon be able to come out of lock down and return to some form of normality. However, for now, we encourage residents to appreciate their neighbours and surroundings. Together we will get through COVID-19 and continue to enjoy exclusive living for the over 50s community.