Do you find that the older generation are not really taking this seriously?

[MySofaHasACatOnIt]

My parents are in their 60s and are very ‘yeah yeah whatever’ about this. My 90-year-old grandmother has completely poo-pooed my concerns when I suggested she stop going to the library every other day and to stay home if possible. Her response? ‘We managed to live through small pox during the war!’

All of my friends/colleagues who all have parents who are 60 plus have said that they’re not taking this seriously at all, with many thinking they know better than the majority if European governments. Completely not fussed about it, still going to mass gatherings, still traveling etc

Meanwhile people I know in their 30s/20s etc seem genuinely worried, are taking precautions etc. No one is panicking but they are being sensible, whereas the older generation I know are almost treating it all as a joke!

Anyone else finding this?

Yes my 73 year old dad is very blasé about it, despite having COPD. He has no intentions of stopping going out and thinks it’s all a bit of overkill.

Yes. My MIL who has health issues believes it will burn itself out and that there are no unconfirmed cases.

I think my age group have never witnessed anything of this magnitude. I struggle to remember life before next day deliverys and the shops being constantly open.

Maybe they feel (obviously the ones much older than 60) that if they've lived through a world war, then it cant be worse than that (hopefully it will not last 6 years for a start!)
My FIL is was annoyed that "the way hes always washed his hands is now wrong!"
We were going to invite them for mothers day but now pondering whether it's a good idea as they would likely come by train.

She lived through smallpox during the war?

I think for many older people socially isolating themselves is basically a death sentence. So many very elderly people go downhill quickly when they stop popping out, seeing friends, going to their classes etc. If they slow down, they stop, permanently.

They're older, they're not stupid! They have enough life experience to make their own judgements about what they're prepared to carry on with and what they want to stop. We should respect their wishes even if they go against what we'd want for them.

And as @UYScuti says - if I was 90, I'd not be letting any namby pamby 70yos tell me how to live my life!

My parents are in their mid 60s and are cautious but not overly worried or panicking. As my mum said, she’s lived through a lot of “end of the world” situations before, eg Cuban Missile Crisis, so has just had more practice than us at coping with very difficult situations.

My 75 year old Mum doesn't seem concerned and an 80 year old lady who I see when I'm walking my dogs is still greeting everyone with a hug.

Just had ‘the talk’ with my teenage daughter about how to manage this - be prepared to contract it but don’t go looking for trouble. Hopefully we achieved a balance.

I’d prefer you didn’t die of this

Would years of dementia, stroke or a slow cancer be better? there is a reason pneumonia is 'the old man's friend'

I'm more towards the other end tbh, think the panickers need a bit of perspective. The illness itself sounds a lot more mild than flu in most cases. Yes it is fatal in some, as is flu. The problem is that no one is immune, unlike flu, and because it can be extremely mild, people don't stay at home like they would with flu, thus it is far more catching.

For individuals, it isn't any different than a nasty virus going round. On a country wide basis, it is massive due to the lack of immunity. Concerned about the potential measures that might come into play yes, but not very worried about catching it myself. My 69yo mother and several immunosuppressed people in my family are carrying on as normal. A what will be will be attitude seems like a fairly sensible way to live to me!! Why lock yourself away then catch it anyway?

If this is true in the majority of elderly people it's going to lead to huge amounts of resentment. When you've got parents worrying about school closures, not being able to get to work, not being able to pay bills, all in order to protect the most vulnerable, including the group who should logically find it the easiest to self isolate...yeah, they'll be thinking, why bother?

My parents are in their 80s. I asked them if they’d watched the BoJo conference on the news, but they said they were busy watching ‘Flog It’

My parents are being utterly ridiculous. Mother in 70's with asthma which had deteriorated hugely in recent years and father aged 88 next week and has been in hospital twice in recent weeks for pneumonia and fluid on the lung appear to be going out purposely as if to say we won't be told to stay put. They invited us out for lunch tomorrow and were bemused when we said no. My twelve year old asked me if they're stupid when she heard me telling dh, says it all really!

Should have said my dad is first in the queue every year for the flu jab!!

I'm in my 60s.i went to the theatre today. I am washing my hands more often and being careful about touching surfaces etc But you can't lock yourself away. I am just carrying on with my life as normal. If I had health problems I might think again but I am healthy.

My MIL is in her 90ties and has been (loudly) praying for delivery for the last 3 years (devout RC) - not every person thinks their own lives have to be preserved at all costs.

Yep. My dad has stage 4 lung cancer with a pleurx fitted. He is listening but my mum isn't and insisting they go out. He won't say no. Selfish bloody woman

Would years of dementia, stroke or a slow cancer be better? there is a reason pneumonia is 'the old man's friend'

I don't think this is the issue. If someone is in isolation in hospital with coronavirus and dying, their nearest and dearest will probably not be allowed to see them because of being infected by the dying person. How horrid to think of someone you love dying all alone.

I work near a holiday caravan destination. Lots of caravan sites nearby.
Our shop has been filled with young family types who have decided to continue their holidays no matter what the cost to local people . None of them were elderly. They all think they are invulnerble therefor everyone else is.

My mum and dad are 70 and 71 and in good health but I would prefer it if they weren’t going out so much. Generally by bus too. I thought my mum especially would have been worried but it appears I’m the one worrying instead.

I'm over 60 and Dh and I are in total social distancing mode. We haven't seen a soul face to face for 5 days now, and fully expect this to go on for months.

Reading the threads on MN it seems there are plenty of people of all ages taking the piss..."Oh I can't go to Disneyland and my little family really needs a holiday" etc.

steamfan I'm with you....and I've got a bit to go til I'm 60!

Just had another text argument with my mum. I told her about what’s happening in Italy, that their health system is near collapse, despite having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, also that they aren’t prioritising/even seeing those over 65, especially those with other conditions.

She replied ‘yes, but we are near one of the leasing specialist hospitals. I’m sure that even if we do get it, we’ll get the best treatment and be well looked after’

No you fucking won’t mum, you’ll be at the back of the queue if things kick off like in Italy!!

*leading hospitals

Yes, I went to toddler group last week and there is a church coffee morning at the same building. There are usually a lot of 75+ people there. They were all having a right laugh about coronavirus and saying they had survived a war etc. The issue is my husband now actually has coronavirus so we’ll see if they change their attitude soon as it’s clearly circulating in the community. My friend is a hospital doctor and says there are nowhere near enough ventilators and so difficult decisions will need to be made. These people will not be priority unfortunately.