FIL and DH not taking it seriously - cancer

[starrysimon]

I’m very close to warning DH that if FIL contracts the virus then it is unlikely he will survive but I don’t want to upset him. FIL is incredibly unhealthy as well as just having recovered from prostate cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore his immune system will be compromised. He’s smoked all his life and drinks heavily daily. He also doesn’t have a great diet and often skips food at work. I know this as DH and him work together and DH never eats either. He has sounded very unwell over the phone for the past week but has continued to go to work. He is 65. DH is not taking it seriously either and says ‘well he’s got to think about money’.

It’s all well and good thinking about money but what about his life? I think FIL needs to be making some serious decisions this week but DH won’t listen to me and is living in some sort of dreamland. How do I get it into his head that FIL is at risk?

My DH and his parents are the same. Maybe it's because they don't know anyone personally who has suffered yet? So to them, it seems like it's never gonna happen to them. All you can do is tell them the facts and the government advice and let them make their own decisions.

I’m really worried that FIL will lose his life and it could be prevented by him just staying at home. They are contractors/labourers going into a lot of different properties in affected areas. I doubt they are taking precautions like washing their hands regularly. DH has already been through the pain of potentially losing him to cancer so I’m unsure why the family isn’t being more vigilant. If it was my father I would be doing my best to make sure he didn’t have to leave the house. But yeah I agree with you. Until someone in our area dies from it then I doubt they’ll take it seriously

Be blunt and tell DH how serious it is. Upsetting DH may save FIL’s life.

Just waiting on FIL picking him up for work so will tell him straight later if FIL still decides to go to work after the government advice that was given yesterday. Does something along the lines of ‘we/you have to be prepared for a low chance of survival if FIL contracts the virus’ seem okay?

I'd be a lot blunter.
Your Dh isn't a child.