Ways to stay connected during self-isolation and quarantine

As the current COVID-19 situation unfolds, the team at Mycare are working to ensure our users remain up to date with the latest information.  

There are lots of great ways to stay connected throughout self-isolation or quarantine periods. Now is the time to stay in touch with the people close to you and make sure they are doing okay. It can also be a great opportunity to catch up with the friends and whānau you haven’t had the time to see in a while. 

There are some amazing technologies available that can help you stay in contact with people over the next few weeks. Check out the list below for a few of our favourites. 

Zoom 

Using Zoom is a great way to connect with a group of people at the same time. Similar to FaceTime or Skype, Zoom is a video call that is free to join and easy to use. When you have made your account, you can host a meeting, or schedule one for another time, and send invites to your friends and family. 

The good thing about Zoom is those you are contacting can easily access the group call through an invitation link you can send to them; they don’t even have to make an account! There is also a Zoom app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play that you can download to your smartphone to make video calling as easy as possible. 

To start a Zoom call, check out https://zoom.us/ and create an account. 

Skype 

Skype is another great way to stay in touch throughout self-isolation and quarantine. It is free to download and easy to set up on your smartphone or computer. 

To use Skype, either download the app or download and install Skype onto your computer from the website. For easy to follow steps on how to download Skype, click here. 

To use Skype you need to have the contact details or Skype username of your friends and family handy. Once you have added some contacts, you can create a video call with up to 50 people. You can also use the chat function to message each other and stay in touch. 

Check out the Skype website for more information at https://www.skype.com/en/. 

Facebook groups 

Facebook groups enable you to connect with a range of people who have the same interests as you. There are so many great community groups on Facebook, including neighbourhood pages, specific community groups, or interest groups. To find one that suits you search up your suburb/town name on Facebook, ask around your friends and family to see if they have any suggestions, or go to the ‘Groups’ tab in Facebook, press ‘Discover’ and Facebook will provide you with a list of groups relevant to your interests. 

Be sure to check out the Mycare Facebook Page as well. We will be posting regular updates about COVID-19 and Mycare, and any new information we have about using our platform during this time. Make sure you like the page to receive up to date notifications from our team. 

Virtual book clubs 

For avid readers, a virtual book club can be a great way to stay connected and meet new people while staying at home. If you haven’t read in a while, joining a casual book club is the perfect excuse to get back into reading regularly. 

If you have a book club that already meets in person, suggest having your next meeting over Zoom or Skype. These are both great platforms for groups of people to discuss you latest read and share a cuppa from the comfort of your own couch! 

To find book clubs to join, check out GoodReads, an online website dedicated to everything about books: https://www.goodreads.com/. Create an account and browse through the wide range of book clubs and discussion pages through the ‘Community’ tab. 

Netflix Party 

Netflix Party is a Google Chrome extension that allows multiple people to stream and watch the same movie or TV show on Netflix at the same time. If your usual social time includes movie nights, or you have been meaning to go to the cinema with a friend, Netflix Party is the perfect solution. 

To use Netflix Party, you need to have a Netflix account and Google Chrome downloaded onto your computer. If you do not have Chrome already, click here for an easy step-by-step guide on how to download it. 

To use Netflix Party, visit their website at https://www.netflixparty.com/, and follow the instructions to invite your friends and watch together! 

Write letters 

If social media is becoming a bit much, writing letters can offer a great way to unwind and show appreciation for how your friends and whānau have meaningfully impacted your life. Take some time to reflect on your favourite shared experiences and memories with the people you care about and put pen to paper to share with them your thoughts. 

You can wait to post the letter after the self-isolation period is over or wait until you can give it to them in person. Alternatively, write it into an email to brighten the recipient’s day. 

Mycare Check In’s 

At Mycare we do our best to stay connected with our community in whatever ways we can. While we can’t get out and about to events at the moment, we do still want to hear from and connect with you. If you’re feeling lonely and just want a chat with someone, give us a call during our normal working hours. We aren’t a helpline, but we understand that it can be pretty lonely being stuck at home, so want to let all our users know that we are here for a friendly chat if you need it. 

We are also looking at setting up some Community Catch Up’s using Zoom to enable our users to meet people in their community and have a friendly catch up. If you would be interested in being a part of a Community Catch Up, email hello@mycare.co.nz with the subject Community Catch Up. 

If at any stage during the lockdown period you do need to talk to someone about your mental health and wellbeing, please reach out and call one of the helplines below: 

Free text or call anytime - 1737 

Lifeline Aotearoa – 0800 543 354  

Youthline - 0800 376 633 

Healthline - 0800 611 116 

Shine (domestic violence line) – 0508 744 633 

Keep up to date 

For up to date information about Mycare and the unfolding COVID-19 situation, have a look at our Facebook Page. Like our page to receive regular updates about Mycare and COVID-19, we will post regularly and keep you informed as the situation develops. 

If you have any questions that haven’t been answered here or on our Facebook page, please contact us at 0800 677 700 or email hello@mycare.co.nz . Our phone line will remain open throughout the Level 4 period, and we will do our best to respond to any questions or concerns you may have during this time. 

For additional information about essential services, have a look at the official New Zealand Government website www.covid19.govt.nz.