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 !!

ErrolTheDragon age is a factor but not the only factor on that list, you could have a score of over 20 but most of those points are because of medical conditions not age. You're more likely to have medical conditions if you're older but there are plenty of fit healthy older people out there.

I'm really worried about my 86yo grandad who is still going out every day. He's at that age of not giving a shit what happens to him but he's asthmatic and wouldn't last two minutes if he got COVID. "If it's my time it's my time" - well that's all very well but funeral restrictions mean I couldn't even say goodbye to you you selfish sod

@speakout that's exactly the ones that worry me, it was church groups in Korea who spread the virus. You don't have to be a horrible anti social slob to spread this thing and I think that's the message the older generation aren't getting.

@boylovesmeerkats yes there are loads of healthy older people. That doesn't matter. It's the age factor that affects outcomes - just like sex - being male- increases your risk and scientists aren't quite sure why.
Age is like that- no one considers themselves old until suddenly you just don't bounce back quite as easily!

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My mother's attitude was.

1. She survived the war- in fact it was fun.
2. God won't let anything happen to her.

to deprive the elderly of real company for months on age would be really damaging for mental health etc Chris Whitty understands this and they would still be covid related deaths even though not positive for covid as the restrictions on life would be worse than covid and still led to premature death There is no way that will happen for 18+ months
Italy has been in lockdown for 5 weeks ( since 9th march) and is continung with a few people back at work until 3rd may total of eight weeks
Spain has eased some work restrictions and is allowing children out for a set period each day after 4 weeks
denmark has schools back after 4 weeks
most countries will want people back at work if they can't work from home by end of april beginning of May
schools I am sure will be back at the very latest by August (scotland) September for rest of UK

I don’t think I would bother worrying about someone that doesn’t take it seriously. They are their own person anyway so what would stressing about it do for anyone? Not worth it in my opinion.

My friend in the shielding group is going out. She’s 54 and dying anyway - she doesn’t want her last few months to be spent in the house 3 paces away from her husband and children.
Don’t judge other people’s actions

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

The chart isn't ageist, of course not, but the endless threads on here suggesting it's older people who are flouting the rules (like this one) are ageist. The only people I've seen obviously breaking the rules are young people - groups of teenagers and younger adults who are clearly not in the same household.

But it isn't just about taking the risk themselves.
By ignoring advice they are putting others in danger too.

@upstar she is only going to supermarket once every 3 weeks she does fruit veg butchers etc every week, and goes out for exercise
my point is they have a decent sized garden but lots of older people don't and they still need exercise and fresh air for vit D and to keep up mobility
also my mum and dad have each other; lots of the elderly are widows widowers and very lonely going out is their key to sanity we know keeping the brain and body active is really important to prevent mental and physical deteriotation and soicalising is important for dementia etc
Also often they have hearing problems so zoom facetime skype etc don't work well for them even if they have the tech and many don't
my dad really can't hear even on an adapted landline phone he can never hear when we skype as sound quality is so much poorer
lots of people thinking it is easy for old people to stay home alone don't realise it is just a different type of death sentence just not covid but still an earlier death than necessary

It’s unfortunate that the message the over 70s keep hearing is that they need to be protected/shielded/kept safe and of course some will feel that is unnecessary and stifling and that they’d prefer take the risk.

What isn’t being made clear is that it’s not an individual risk. They risk infecting others. They hugely risk taking up hospital space and equipment. And they risk infecting NHS staff.

They can make an enormous contribution to society, to the economy and to the future by staying home.

The irony is, that this generation probably understand the concepts of duty, sacrifice and the greater good more than any other. If the message was “please do your bit by staying in” it would probably galvanise them. But when you reach an age where people routinely assume you’re incapacitated and incompetent and you have to constantly fight to hold onto your independence, what can you expect but that they will battle on at any cost?

@TeacupDrama please look at the fatality statistics for Denmark- we are so far ahead of them with 10 000 deaths already. @SleepyNightOwl I do worry about individuals but also that they are spreading the virus about.

1. She survived the war- in fact it was fun.

If she is 86 she was, what, 5-11 during the war? My late parents were that bit older...it wasn't a barrel of laughs.

2. God won't let anything happen to her.*

Plenty of religious people have died. Well, I suppose if she really believes it, she'll be delighted to die and won't want the NHS delaying her from meeting her maker?

How can people be expected to adhere to the rule s when Mr Gove runs in ‘a closed’ London park, he procures a test for his daughter but his wife is still in quarantine for symptoms?
Or when the PMs girlfriend is moved to join him at Chequers instead of them both staying safely at number 11?
Or BJs father is filmed from his country home celebrating his son’s discharge, having moved there after lockdown?
Or the housing minister who drove Viacom his parents (who were being well supported by neighbours) to his country home?

If you want people to follow the rules you set, you lead by example.

ErrolTheDragon

I agree with your points.

Yes my mother was a child during the war. Lived in rural Scotland- plenty food around as many people kept chickens etc.
None of her family were called up to fight, she remembers it all a great time.

I do see lots of different people doing this. However, younger people are statistically likely to bounce back quicker than older people.

I tried to explain to my dad about the issue of bed blocking and that if he did require ITU and a ventilator then he might be there for longer than a younger person and that there might not be a bed for my 13 year old asthmatic son should he need one.

Nobody over 60 is going to get anywhere near a ventilator or an ITU bed, it’ll be palliative care only. Over 70s are no more likely to spread the virus than anyone else.

Let them be and mind your own business. If I was over 70 and thought this would go on for 18 months I would rather take the small risk of death rather than live in misery for 18 months.

Secondly, they are at very small risk of catching it if they wash their hands after going to the shop and stay away from other people.

Thirdly, social distancing rules aren't going to stop anyone catching the virus at all. They are intended to reduce transmission. 100% compliance is not needed in order to achieve this.

Fourthly don't try and blame people for taking up a bed in hospital. Many over 70s will need to go to hospital before they die, whatever the reason. It's just pot luck.

Nobody over 60 is going to get anywhere near a ventilator or an ITU bed, it’ll be palliative care only.

That's not what the nhs 'decision support tool' implies - not a significant number of 'points' for 60-65 if you're otherwise fit and well.

Nobody over 60 is going to get anywhere near a ventilator or an ITU bed, it’ll be palliative care only
That’s untrue and scaremongering. At the moment every patient receives the same consideration regardless of age. That consideration is whether they would benefit from ventilation. Obviously nobody would be so unkind as to put a 93 year old with metastatic cancer on an intensive care unit but at 60, you’ll be offered every possible chance to recover from a reversible condition.

boylovesmeercats
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
this is what I dislike seeing on these threads - sheer 'ageism' against an entire demographic.

It is shameful and achieves nothing except perpetuating the myth that none of us older people are taking this situation seriously because we are old, stupid, selfish and lack compassion. And you are so wrong,

This is my dad. Still goes out and buys a paper every day. My 2 brothers each pop round for lunch once a week. There's nothing I can do about it and it's a huge worry.

Nobody over 60 is going to get anywhere near a ventilator or an ITU bed, it’ll be palliative care only

Could you provide any evidence for that comment?

Same here. My mother seems to think a few 1000 deaths extra per year isn't a big deal really

Not sure what to say anymore