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Over 70s to self isolate

962 replies

Dodie66 · 14/03/2020 21:36

Over 70s are going to be told to self isolate even if they don’t have the virus and this will be coming in 5-20 days and last 4 months
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-coronavirus-over-70s-told-21694397?fbclid=IwAR2k9MqPf7vOzNcnqfVroLXVp0sQjYRmihHKBiL9pvdhSi5780WpYkgFNnI

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Jeeperscreepers69 · 15/03/2020 18:09

Just not practical. Ridiculous

Teenagekicks21 · 15/03/2020 18:15

My 72 year old father and 93 year old grandfather are both stubborn buggers, but also appreciate that this is not to pee them off but to keep them safe and are both currently preparing to self isolate. The NHS (I work in it)Will not cope with the influx of patients requiring care if we don't make sacrifices. I get non compliance if there are dementia and carer concerns but otherwise personally think anyone in the at risk category is a fool to be putting themselves at risk irrespective of how hard it will be to self isolate.

LynnSchmob · 15/03/2020 18:16

Add the Daily Mail to that list. They’ve been extremely irresponsible.

Missmolly22 · 15/03/2020 18:19

Both myself and husband are 72, he retired end of last year and I retired as a very busy Nursing home manager the beginning of last year.

I have found retirement very hard after being with patients and staff all my working life.
This I am going to find extremely hard but you know what I will do it because it may save my life . I have a few medical conditions This is very scary times and yes I am going to feel bored ( I already did)
Please do what you can for your parents or grandparents The powers that be have already said the ventilators will go to people who have a bettter chance of survival.
Stay well everyone.

Clockers41 · 15/03/2020 18:25

Bookmark

Today 16:44 MigginsMrs

I do get that but aren't people still working in Italy, Spain etc?

Have a good friend in Turin - you are permitted to go to work, medical appointments, to buy food and to walk the dog ! He said everyone now wants a dog? !

StoneofDestiny · 15/03/2020 18:25

a lot of over 70's are far from unhealthy, decrepit of vulnerable!
Imagine, at whatever age you are, being told you have to stay indoors for 4 weeks! I think even having the novelty of not working might wear off, when your Universe is shrunk to your 4 walks!
Psychologically being told you are 'elderly' after only enjoying 5 years of retirement is a huge thing.
Maybe, recognising 'over 70's' are elderly and vulnerable, should bring retirement age back down to 60!
Really - the government we can't have it both ways.

Lincolnfield · 15/03/2020 18:35

A blanket ‘ban’ on over 70s makes no sense at all.

One of my colleagues is a recently retired cardiac surgeon aged 72. He has maintained his license to practice. His hospital have already contacted him to ask if he would be prepared to help out if necessary- slightly difficult if he can’t go out of his house!

W have three big working retrievers. My husband is also 72. Are we expected to put nappies on the dogs?

We live in a rural community so are farmers over 70 or our neighbours with small holdings expected to leave their livestock unattended?

My friend has a livery stable and the horses need exercise as well?

Not all over 70s are pathetic frail old people. My husband is incredibly fit. He was a police officer for thirty years. He is a scuba diving instructor, so I’m sure his lungs are in good nick, he runs every morning, is out on the moors with the dogs shooting at least twice a week and weighs exactly the same as he did when he was twenty.

Our local newsagent is in his eighties and runs his shop single handedly since his wife died. Should he just shut up his shop which is the thing that gives him a reason to get up every day?

@Loppy10 talking about ‘war footing’ is precisely the kind of over the top language that leads to irrational panic and fear. Victimising older people is ridiculous. As a theatre sister for many years, I have regularly seen enormously fat younger people suffering from COPD and other respiratory problems purely due to their bulk. Maybe we should lock them all away for a few months?

You are also entirely missing the point. The suggested isolation is not to prevent the spread of the virus but to try to protect older people from contracting it.

The people who have said that being shut away at home will do more harm than good are so right, but just as a suggestion for those who think it’s a wonderful idea, maybe just checking that elderly neighbours are okay might be a nicer thing to do than pointing fingers at people whose only crime is living too long 😒😒

Alsohuman · 15/03/2020 18:38

That’s a very good point. You’re fine to work until you’re 68, then two years later you’re suddenly frail and elderly. That window’s shockingly small.

Plunger · 15/03/2020 18:38

Well the murder rate will increase rapidly for those over 70! I'd stab mine after a week let alone 4 months Grin

Bool · 15/03/2020 18:39

Yes banks in Italy are open. My sister in laws kids (she works in a bank) are currently off school and being looked after by....the grandparents. They are doing this the wrong way round. Isolate the vulnerable. Keep the kids at school.

UYScuti · 15/03/2020 18:47

currently off school and being looked after by....the grandparents
does your SIL recognise the problem with this approach though?

jany70 · 15/03/2020 18:48

My Husband is 79 he has been staying in for a while for his own protection maybe just a quick walk in the deserted countryside. I would be more concerned about older teenagers/young adult, I cannot see them staying in for a week or two with a cough.....Older people have much more to lose, they seem to do the sensible things before being told.

Teenagekicks21 · 15/03/2020 18:49

Self isolation will not stop people walking dogs in uncrowded places or tending to livestock. What it will do is stop vulnerable people from going to crowded shopping centres or any place that will increase the chances of coming into contact with the virus. And yes I do think anyone with underlying health concerns should be doing this regardless of age. I have itu friends they are already scared and its not kicked off yet. The NHS will not cope unless we attempt to slow the speed of this virus down. It is going to be crap for all of us, worse I am sure for some than others. But that is what happens in unprecedented times.

user1471439240 · 15/03/2020 18:52

If the worst predictions are true and thousands perish then the assumption would be that fear would see the stubbornness subside. Events have a habit of overtaking current mindsets.

barbsbarbs · 15/03/2020 18:55

olderthanilookapparently so true.

user1471453601 · 15/03/2020 19:09

I'm self isolating now, as I'm pretty sure it's going to come in for my age group.

My rational is two fold. First, it may protect me from getting the virus. If it does, then it may mean I'm not taking up a icu bed, leaving NHS more ability to treat others

toxic44 · 15/03/2020 19:19

Not thought through by the decision makers. People living alone? People with mental health issues? People with physical health problems? Who shops for them? Who helps them in the shower? Who - most importantly - keeps them from cabin fever?

Teateaandmoretea · 15/03/2020 19:24

Self isolation will not stop people walking dogs in uncrowded places or tending to livestock

I'm totally baffled as to why dogs are the ones with the most rights here tbh. They need walking but children can just cope without going out of the house for a month Confused

Rosebel · 15/03/2020 19:27

I told my parents this today, do you think they would listen? No of course not! They seen to think they won't get it. They're 77 and 75 , I'm already scared for them and worried they won't listen.

Lincolnfield · 15/03/2020 19:27

@Teenagekicks21 - precisely! But most of us older people are trying to exercise common sense already. We don’t go into our nearest town. We’ve both suspended our gym membership for the next three months and will see what it all looks like then.

When we do go out, it is to our big local park which has enormous fields to exercise the dogs if the weather is really foul or up on the moors and edges where we live in the Peak District which is where we go at least three days every week with my husband taking the dogs out shooting a couple of days.

Having spent our working lives in very stressful jobs, me in a massive inner city teaching hospital and my husband a police officer, again in a multi ethnic inner city area, we now relish our quiet rural life here and have absolutely no desire to go into crowded areas or big shopping malls.

Lincolnfield · 15/03/2020 19:32

@Teateaandmoretea ?? It’s not about dogs’ rights for god’s sake! Dogs need to urinate and empty their bowels and, unlike children they can’t sit on the lavatory! Big working dogs like ours need daily exercise, runs of several miles which a quick trot around the garden can’t provide.

Sigh! Why does it inevitably come down to a kids v dogs comment? They’re not mutually exclusive you know. Some people even have both!

MrsBadcrumble123 · 15/03/2020 19:33

My mum is 71 and works 30 hrs a week. If she was told to stay home she wouldn’t be paid and would be unable to pay her rent. She is a widow and I couldn’t afford to lend her money - the government are assuming all over 70’s are retired!! Totally impractical where no financial assistance has been offered- SSP is a pitiful £94 a week!!

Alsohuman · 15/03/2020 19:34

I'm totally baffled as to why dogs are the ones with the most rights here

They’re not. It’s not either or. Sensible people will walk their dogs at quiet times of day in uncrowded places. I never see a soul on many walks.

Lincolnfield · 15/03/2020 19:36

@Alsohuman hurray! 👏👏 Thank you. Common sense.

MrsBadcrumble123 · 15/03/2020 19:36

And those saying if over 70’s don’t isolate they don’t deserve healthcare I’m assuming you are this breed of nasty left-wing extremists who are wishing elderly Brexit voters death! Seriously grow some compassion Confused

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