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?

Wine, do you honestly obey everything the government tells you? He's hardly going out to dinner at Nando's before going to the cinema via the Tube. He's behaving in a way that's sensible for him. He doesn't need your permission to do so and certainly doesn't deserve your scorn. But it seems to be bringing you some self-righteous satisfaction as you continue to excoriate the man so by all means continue doing so.

Also when your nan survived small pox she was younger and less vulnerable

wineloffa maybe he isn't much bothered whether he dies in the next three months or not.

My 70 year old colleague is still planning on going on his cruise this month. Apparently he can just fill in a form saying he has no pre-existing conditions and they'll let him on

My mum is 67 and thinks it's ridiculous. I explained to her Thursday that the NHS will struggle and they won't manage when hundreds are getting it. She sort of hmmmm at me lol.

You have got to be joking!!!! I've yet to meet a boomer who is as entitled as the generations who came after them. Unless you are one you really have no idea.

Yep absolutely this. There's some fab thoughtful young people of course. And there's the bitter, resentful people like Loppy who like to blame everyone else for their problems. Be better than Loppy.

There are threads full of women declaring ‘Oh when I’m old and poor and incapable, I’ll pop off to Dignitas’

If your loving family don’t lock you up and make you live on their terms.

Can you not accept wineloffa that he is making a rational choice to live more even if it means he might die sooner?

@Ginbunny1212 thank you, I wondered how it worked , so the shops still get deliveries

@TorkTorkBam he’s 64! If he doesn’t get Coronavirus, he could have a other 25 years in him!

I know a couple of older people who have been complaining about 'younger people spreading it around' but at the same time not using hand gel themselves etc. Think it should also be about personal responsibility as well.

My mum is in her 70s, has a heart problem, cancer and high blood pressure. She's not worried at all. I forced her to carry hand sanitizer.

Maybe maybe not wineloffa. He can decide for himself. Has he got any kind of mental impairment?

Further info - over 70’s to self quarantine at home and care homes. Imminent in 5-20 days.
Source - Peston - Spectator
www.spectator.co.uk/article/uk-quarantines-elderly-as-over-70s-told-stay-at-home-until-july

Wine, troll hunting is against Talk Guidelines and an unacceptable response just because someone does not agree with you at all.

Plenty of us have very vulnerable loved ones, or have been bereaved extensively, but do not feel it gives us the right to scold or scorn others for how they choose to live their lives no matter how frightening it is to us.

No one knows how much time they could have, all we have is the rest of our lives.

My 70+ parents live in a country that has minimal cases. They have friends visiting from the U.K. (via Singapore) who have missed a mandatory 14 day quarantine for everyone arriving in the country by 2 days. These friends are making no attempt to self isolate, are travelling the country by public transport and are spending 5 days with my parents well within the 14 day incubation period.

My mother doesn’t want to offend them by telling them to stay elsewhere.

So yes, I do think some older people are being ridiculously casual about the whole thing.

I'm finding the opposite actually. Only a couple of weeks ago my younger colleagues hadn't heard of Coronavirus. They still switch off the news as they don't think this will affect them. They continue to go on holiday and continue as normal. I'm in my 50s, parents in 80s, children in 30s - we are all concerned and are being extra careful and prepared.

Elderly quarantine is coming.

www.itv.com/news/2020-03-14/elderly-to-be-quarantined-for-four-months-in-wartime-style-mobilisation-to-combat-coronavirus/

What are they going to do? Arrest us all if we go out? Then what? The prisons are overflowing. No government is this stupid - particularly one that depends on the pensioner vote.

alsohuman
No, I daresay they won’t arrest you - but it’ll make some change their behaviour.

My parents will do as the govt tells them, they won’t do what I tell them.

Let’s see what happens, Alsohuman.
They may start demanding proof of age. Perhaps essential personnel like NHS staff, teachers and home delivery drivers will be exempt.
4 months of isolation, many elderly won’t cope. Others may respond badly to being locked down.
Interesting times.

What does quarantine mean in this context, I wonder? 90 yr olds living at home can't just not be visited can they - in fact many of them have carers several times a day already? Unrealistic to find care home places for all of them i would have thought.

We’ve been isolating ourselves at home for the last 3 days. We are in Ireland and the schools are closed and playgrounds are locked up. DH is working from home and only leaves to get essentials from the shop and when he returns he uses alcohol gel before coming into the house and then washes his hands well.

My DM is 72 and today she has been out shopping (for non-essentials) and then to the hairdresser! She doesn’t get it! If she catches it she could end up dying alone with no medical help if the hospitals are overrun. Or she could be incubating it and spreading it to vulnerable people she encounters.

I feel like we are living on different planets - but I feel that soon the whole country will be forced to stay at home except for essential workers so that will put a stop to people like her carrying on obliviously.

"4 months of isolation, many elderly won’t cope."

The effect on mental health of that shouldn't be underestimated - and once depression sets in at that age I imagine it's quite hard to fight off.

I suspect 'let's see what happens' is sage advice at the moment!