To be worried about people over 70 who aren't really taking COVID seriously

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I'm really worried about friends and neighbours over 70. They seem to be the ones who are still out and about, going for papers and pensions, refusing offers of help and generally not wanting to make a fuss. I'm sure they think old people are someone else! How do we get across to them that it's really important? They also seem to think that we will all be back to normal next week !!

You can't police other people.

I hate the 'old people don't understand' line. Of course they understand, people don't suddenly become stupid because they are old.

Like everyone else they make a choice. It's their right to make a choice wether you agree with it or not. None of the older people I know are leaving their homes. Perhaps the ones you know were stupid in the first place 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's not just people over 70 doing it. Sort it out!

So you think only people over 70 are doing this?

Well... it is not just them. We're older and I can tell you that every single person I know who is that age or older are stringently abiding by the rules.

But as for younger families.... well.... no

I really get fed up with this victimisation of older people when in fact it is all age groups.

People make a choice ... you can’t police other people, my DPs are late 80s and are still going shopping a couple of times a week, sorting out a new mobile phone, picking up fish & chips .... I could easily shop for them, but they just crave their independence. I point out that even if they don’t care if they die, they shouldn’t be using NHS capacity ... although they quite rightly point out that at their age they probably wouldn’t be taken in to hospital anyway .....

It's up to them not you.

My parents are nearly 80 and taking it seriously now, the teenagers who had ignored the local adventure playground had been sealed off and still decided to sit in the swings today not so much🤔

Write them a really patronising note about how old people need to understand that they’re old and daft and lacking the insight of someone like yourself? Or, just let them get on with it.

I agree that it isn't just older people AT ALL.

Why do you single them out op? Ime all ages are flouting the rules.

They will get the virus most likely and then take up a hospital bed.

My parents were the same, out everyday, picking up the paper, going here there dad everywhere. Wouldn't listen at all.

One has just spend two weeks in hospital with Covid and was pretty frightened as felt awful. It's a horrible illness to have as it's so unpredictable.

FFS. People of different ages are flouting the guidelines.

I suspect they have capacity and are perfectly capable of making their own decisions. They might not like being patronised and ‘helped’. They might have decided on the degree of risk they are prepared to accept.
That’s their right as long as they aren’t putting others at risk.

But if they are taking up a hospital bed they are affecting others.
How are people still not getting that!
My next door neighbours babe their neighbours in and out all day; they have a door on the fence for this purpose. People are idiots,

To be worried about people over 70 who aren't really taking COVID seriously

You dont know every over 70 in the UK, stop generalising just because you know a few older people.

All my relatives are taking it very seriously so does that mean all over 80s are?
Its not just the over 70s who are out and about, check out any thread on here and you will see someone complaining about friends and neighbours in their 20s and 30s having parties, bbqs reltives visitng etc.

Thanks just checking back in. I'm not singling out over 70s for any reason except they are moe vulnerable to horrible outcomes. I know there are people of all ages who aren't getting the message but I do see more elderly people out shopping, leaving the house daily for papers and insisting they don't need help when people offer. I know they are very capable and independent but this is an exceptional situation and I'm worried for them. How can the government get across to them the danger they're putting themselves and others in not to mention prolonging the lockdown for everyone else?

There is a lot of elderly and vulnerable people out and about - as they are the ones likely to end up in hospital they need to stay in more than the young. I would have a stronger lockdown on these groups

Has it occurred to you that they may think that they don’t feel they have so much time left and are prepared to take the risk?

If anything, the old should stay in and on the rest of the evidence, most of us under 50 can resume something like normal life. I imagine the Government is just wondering how to deliver this rather complicated message.

This NHS 'decision support tool' might concentrate some people's minds - I'm not sure everyone is aware of the various criteria.

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Another bloody ageist thread. I wish MNHQ would zap them.

Unfortunately it's not ageism - age does make a difference on this. Do you think the nhs chart I've linked to is ageist?

there is a difference between shielded and general pensioners, not all over 70's need to stay at home all the time out of about 6.5 million over 70's only 1.5 have letters advising not to leave home/garden at all
Chris Whitty said they could go out for exercise that is necessary for them to stay as healthy as possible
There are also slots for them shopping at most supermarkets
over 70's not in shielded group are supposed to take extra care with social distancing, for many gettingthe paper is what makes staying at home the rest of the time acceptable doing the crossword sudoku etc
my Dad is 96 he has had a letter he is staying home and getting his exercise in the garden my mum is quite a bit younger so she goes shopping etc they are follwoing the rules they don't have internet it is impossible to get them a delivery slot I have tried my mum doesn't do all her shopping at supermarket, ( she goes every 3 weeks she has been once since lockdown) she goes to the butcher fishmonger, the egg lady at a farm the farm shop for fruit and veg, milk etc is delivered by milkman
The old like Chris Whitty say have to consider that staying in brings other undesirable long term health problems that come along side lack of physical mobility once lost not easily regained, loneliness etc these are real problems it is a balancing act
I mentioned my Dad of 96 earlier in 2018 he was in hospital with "normal pneumonia" on oxygen for a few days he recovered and is back to himself but he needs to potter in the garden if they didn't have a garden he would go out for a walk

They aren't prolonging the lockdown. We are waiting for things to level out and for us be equipped to deal with the next wave.

We are looking at reduced movement for at leat six months, but experts on the BBC are saying that for at least eighteen months the vulnerable groups will be at risk.

They can be part of the first wave, or the next one. They may have a DNR in place and be happy to take the risk. They won't get hospital beds before anyone younger and by staying in they are delaying the inevitable.

When they were growing up (me included) we didn't expect to live past 70, or of any of the conditions on the at risk list. They've lived with lots, of diseases and events that could have ended their life.

It's just unfair to be taking the virus into shops and putting retail staff at risk.

I think for fit and healthy 70+ year olds they can really do what they want within the rules. Do you know many 70+ year olds? They still have immune systems so can still fight off the virus, it's the shielded ones that you should worry about and they're staying in. I do agree that the older generation seem to have a thing about nipping down the shops and baby boomers aren't known as the most compassionate generation but I'd leave them to it. Plenty of them are sensible.

My 86 year old mother is just back today from visiting some church friends in a house 2 streets away. Four of them- all from different households.
It is frustrating - yes. I cannot police her though. And it is pointless worrrying.

My 80yo parents are going shopping for their (older and more frail) neighbours.

@TeacupDrama your mum and dad are being very good if she's only going out once every 3 weeks!
Sadly not everyone is and I'm aware of this through volunteer work. I'm not being ageist. Everyone over 70 or who is eligible for a flu jab, while not in the shielded group, are classed as vulnerable and should practise enhanced social distancing. A walk once a day for exercise is great but going to the shops once a day is not. There are loads of volunteer groups who can help deliver shopping and prescriptions for vulnerable people if they don't have family help or delivery slots. These are not normal times.