Lock up the old people!

[SD1978]

Deliberate title as there are so many on Covid-19 and I'd like mine answered.... if the main issue is that those over 60 are at highest risk of negative outcomes, and requiring actual hospital treatment, why has it not been suggested a mass self isolation of this demographic in the early stages, or now? Statistically, a younger adult or child requires no treatment, and can and do recover at home with no medical intervention and after they test negative recover well . The health care system in Italy has been brought to,its knees with 60+ age presentations and this is why the ICU's are making some horrendous decisions through necessity. If we advised people for a month, who were above 65- to properly self isolate the in patient impact would be drastically reduced. Or am I missing something obvious.

My dad is self isolating, COPD and terrified,poor man.

Because that would involve cutting them off from their community and be awful mental health wise.

The advice for the elderly to isolate themselves is coming, but not yet because the risk isn’t high and they don’t want unnecessary isolation.

It was explained in the press conference.

I thought the Boris plan was for retired doctors to save the NHS? So how would that work if they are locked up?

Lots of over 60s still working.
Grandparents pick up gc from school etc.
They need to do shopping.
Caring for even older relatives
Attending essential hospital appointments
It will spread in care homes

Also people still work until 67, do they take unpaid leave and face financial ruin

A lot of 60 year olds are healthier than teenagers

My mother and father are both doing this. They would rather be a bit lonely than slowly drown if it gets to the stage where the NHS is overwhelmed.

Yes if the 60 year olds don't care for their parents will the state step in? Nooooo!

I agree with you SD1978. The worry about loneliness and isolation is overstated and patronising. People could take their own decision and choose not to “lock” themselves up as you put it if they would find it too hard. But many over 60s would be fine - especially couples. This advice should be given sooner rather than later.

I have told my 82 year old dad to stay home but he is stubborn and until a few days ago was still making unnecessary trips on buses. It's not just elderly people though, it's anyone high risk. I have begged my chronically asthmatic dh to self isolate but he has still been going to work as normal.

I want to self isolate as I am immune compromised I am prevented from doing so until the government clothes the schools as the children could bring the virus home. Also dh needs to be able to stay at home from work and get paid.
It’s not as simple as people self isolating themselves to keep safe. We need government support.

*closes.

For me, from a pragmatic approach, if this is the most affected age range, the most likely to die, and the most likely to be allowed to die if we get to a point where ventilators are at a premium and medical staff have to choose who gets one, surely I,ole,eating this would slow,down the strain on services? If we are moving closer to,asking those with very little risk to self isolate, why are we not asking those most at risk to do so? It just seems like commone sense

My Dad and partner are retired and staying away from people. Over 70s are the highest risk. I think there is the 'oh well carry on' attitude in some older people (my Mum being one) which is irresponsible in my opinion.

Presumably you include in this sweeping policy ICU leads, respiratory consultants, nurses, GPs, civil servants, healthcare workers, refuse collectors, military staff officers and air traffic controllers, lead engineers at our power stations and water/sewage facilities, MPs, the majority of the House of Lords, etc. In short, all of those people you will need to keep your life going, with many thousands of years of expertise between them?

We don’t all sit at home waiting for Murder She Wrote, you know.

It’s a care issue. A lot of people in that age group are unpaid carers or need care themselves. It would be practically impossible to effect a mass isolation in the same way it would be impossible to mass isolate children.

I don’t think they need locking up (but the title did catch my attention! )

I do think they need to isolate as much as physically possible. Stop going out, meeting family (kills me to say that, my own DPs see our DCs all the time) and only Male essential trips. They can isolate at home

Mass isolation just creates more likelihood of catching it off others. It’s the opposite of social distancing. So self isolate best

My Nan is 93 and is going to town on the bus today. No listening, she says she’ll die of boredom if she stays in so she’d rather be out and take the risk.

Ageism still alive and well on mumsnet...Op, do you really consider someone aged 60 to be 'old' and need 'locking up'? I suggest you leave the 60's and over to make their own decisions.

Massive over simplification on your part!
I'm 64 and work in a team of 20 and 30 year olds.
I have far fewer colds, flu and gastro complaints than any of them.

I agree - let people make their own decisions. If self isolating is what they deem best - fine. If they'd rather take their chances, then it's up to them. Older people have many decades of life experience to help them make the right choices! Anything else is utterly patronising.

I'm in my late sixties and in an 'essential' full time job. Lots of people my age still have to (and are needed to) work! I agree that perhaps those over say 80 might need to isolate themselves but your post OP smacks of 'shut them away' ageism.
What about all those of any age with underlying health conditions? You haven't mentioned them?

My 79 year old MIL has decided to continue life as normal. She lives in a large city and is still using the buses and going shopping. She thinks the media have over hyped everything and it's just flu. She's a stubborn women and there's no telling her! It's her decision, there's nothing wrong with her mind.

I was talkig to dh about this. He works in crises management and so is pretty on the ball about all this.

I said, if I was immunocompromised, or older, I woudl be self isolating, at least massively reducing contacts with others. his comment was - fine, but you would have ot do that until end of August probably. That is 5 months. That si a LONG time.

And then what? When would they stop being isolated? Vaccine is probably a year away, there will still be enough infection around for there to be a significant chance of catching it for a few months yet even if/when herd immunity is possible.