How do you weigh social distancing against isolation when making decisions about a loved one who lives alone?

Much amused by the people out and about in our little city today (yes I did have to go in!). We'll have to invent a name for the Social Distancing Dance we do when going through shop doorways or standing at service counters - it's like bees' waggle-dancing. Nobody was panic buying, but *everybody* was complaining about everybody who did. I overheard three separate conversations about the Instagram post from an intensive care nurse who had just completed 48 hours on duty, went home via the supermarket because she hadn't eaten, and found the shelves stripped bare. She was understandably emotional about it.

(I expect the staff will have found her something. Our retail workers are utterly exhausted but they are being total heroes when it comes to small but important acts of kindness. Even my local newsagent: the owner noticed that his older, frailer customers were trying to open the door with their elbows, so he's told his team to keep the door wedged open and put a space heater behind their counter.)

I could have bought a packet of nine loo rolls. I only want four. I'm holding out for the non-jumbo stocks - but with three rolls and two boxes of Kleenex in the house, I might be facing a tense time.

It seems that ‘social distancing’ involves reducing exposure to other people by 75%, keeping 2 meters separation, plus avoiding crowds etc. It applies to people over 70, including me and DH. It’s hard to get your head around.
Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf

Use easy devices for hard of hearing and vision.

One good device, called Grandpad, is used by Consumer Cellular customers who may use AARP discount if they become AARP members. Large icons and video as well as voice in Grandpad's easy-to-use screen help all get connected 24 hours.

The device, called Grandpad, from Consumer Cellular is there for the higher risk individuals!

Grandpad device may be used by all Consumer Cellular customers for family and friends to stay in touch! Certainly allow him to decide what is comfortable for him. I think your father-in-law will like this option. Although no device is a substitute for real people, it will ensure no exposure to illness and safer until this coronavirus crisis ends hopefully soon.

Let him decide, and then everybody accept his decision as far as he is concerned.

If others in the family have responsibilities to other seniors, however, they may need to stay away from him regardless in order to reduce the overall risk of transmitting the infection from one household to another. In that case, perhaps they can phone him as often as they would normally visit him?

Social distancing can be done just by avoiding groups larger than 10 and maintaining physical distance when you do get together. As long as you are all super vigilant not to let him visit if anyone in the house has a fever or cough and you maintain physical distance and avoid physical contact, I think you are doing everything you can do.
Maybe be extra careful when handling his cutlery, plates and drinking glasses, too. Or use paper products when you have dinner. Make sure no one touches them with unwashed hands.
Kids are often contagious when they have very minimal symptoms so I would advise keeping the children off him too.
He's 93. This could last for months. I'd try to keep the dinners if that's what he'd like to do.
We are all going to have to get used to this new way of doing things.

Could you get an tablet so he could use Skype? In my family, which is much smaller, I am the only one around my dad right now. The others come to the door and yell in to him. There is only one case here too, now and hope it stays that way. They can always call him on phone.