In despair over older relatives

[Blueceramic]

Just off the phone with parents trying to get them to take the advice to avoid social contact as much as possible seriously, was met with the response that they don't want to stop living their life and that they are still fit and young ( both are pushing 70 with underlying health issues). Other older relatives much the same, apparently they are immune and I'm overreacting

@EhOh
You download the paper or write it if you don't have a printer (though I expect the Mairie will also give them out). You tick the reason you are out of the house. The gendarmes are out and about in towns and on roads. They check what you are doing and can fine people.
The lunchtime news had lots of stories of people being stopped and the process explained to them.

I wish they’d close the pubs/restaurants and gyms.
My parents are merrily off to the gym today. My Dad said as long as the pubs are open he’ll be going to them....he’s 69 and asthmatic.

Drives me insane.

In essence you are stating that you are outside in accordance with the decree and regulations of 16th March for the fight against Covid-19.

I think a lot of people are in denial about the reality of this. For the last fortnight or so, every time I go to the shops I've been asking my 87 year old widowed neighbour if there is anything she needs bringing in. This morning she rang me saying she was just off to Morrisons and did I need anything brought in! I don't think she quite gets it. She was off to the hairdressers too.

I give up.

Faffed about getting elderly dad online shop delivered. He has carers coming in to cook it.

He is now going on about buying some art stuff, I said we could get it online but he is insisting on 'going up the shop in town' etc

Just changes the subject if I talk about why it is non essential etc

It is like I am trying to take away his freedom - it's not it is about keeping safe. Argh.

If they closed the places they would get the insurance they mentioned and also prevent this kind of thing

Some countries have forms to fill in we don't want to go that far but it needs something more perhaps

Here in Switzerland, they’ve announced that anyone ignoring the social distancing rules in public will receive a minimum ~£20,000 fine.

What happens if you live with an elderly person with a health condition but you are working as normal in a supermarket with a high chance of customers having the virus there's a high chance you will infect them.

@Orangeblossom78 No, the association of British insurers have confirmed this is not the case with the vast majority of policies. The government ordering closure by law will not suddenly allow insurance claims from business.

Oh Ok thanks for clarifying. It was just something I heard on the news this morning.

Seems to be so many examples of this generation taking this whole issue as a joke, refusing to contemplate even minor changes to their lifestyle, while the rest of us lose our jobs, get into debt and put ourselves at risk to help protect them. Truly an "I'm alright Jack" generation that is used to riding on the backs of the young

Exactly. I have huge sympathy for the elderly who are afraid of being lonely, who don't have access to the internet for shopping etc, and I've volunteered to help on our street. But for the many others, my family included, they're being vastly irresponsible while my children's education is being missed and our future financial prospects being eroded by the second.

My DF is demented, not just a bit, but the point where he is wandering around half dressed, unwashed, unfed, lost and mumbling incoherent nonsense. WSCC deem him to have capacity. He won't self isolate, pointless even having the conversation with him. He's still in his own home.....well, that's when he's even at home. There must be hundreds of people like him, with no residential care, what will happen if the government try to enforce a lockdown?

I did also hear something about they can be arrested here in UK. Not sure how true that is though!

It's not that generation, it's just some people! The same people who if they were younger now would be carrying on going to the pub and getting one last hair appointment in. There are plenty of older people who are taking this extremely seriously.

I really am not seeing this, either with my own relatives or with the older people where I live. I think we (a societal we) need to be careful about demonising any group with regards this. It’s unhelpful and divisive. Based on my experience I could easily blame younger people - I drove past costa and greggs this morning to my government approved isolated, singular outside exercise, and both were rammed with young people. I find this whole finger pointing ‘it’s them’ depressing no matter who is on the end of it.

Select committee going on now..Both NHS head and Patrick Vallance drawing a direct line between whether there will be enough beds and support for patients, and whether people follow the restrictions. In their words if 'everyone' follows the advice..

I think people need to realise that there is a delicate balancing act here between modelling of how the virus might progess, how much capacity the NHS could have, and have many restrictions are needed to allow it some level of coping. I am sure they are allowing for a small level of non compliance but really, if the rules are widely ignored they will have to be enforced militarily and if that is not possible, we will be seeing scenes far worse than Italy. Even if military enforcement took a few days to set up we would be looking at Italy rates in a very short time, too late to avoid.

Well the parents have accepted that nipping on. Buses just to get out of the house isn't the best idea,and. Dd is taking. Them shopping so the message is getting through which I am relieved about.

There are irresponsible dickheads in every age group.

Seems to be so many examples of this generation taking this whole issue as a joke, refusing to contemplate even minor changes to their lifestyle, while the rest of us lose our jobs, get into debt and put ourselves at risk to help protect them. Truly an "I'm alright Jack" generation that is used to riding on the backs of the young

For god's sake. There are irresponsible in every age group. You are talking bollocks. We are this age group. Everyone we know, and we know a lot of people, are social isolating.

What about those carrying on with their lives as normal of your age group?

I'm sick of the ageism on MN. Go and sort your relatives out MNers. My adult kids know I'm responsible. Stop demonising a whole generation.

Of course we’re making sweeping generalisations but the reason I am annoyed with my relatives more than my neighbours teenagers is because this virus is much more likely to kill the older than the young. It’s not cause I’m sick of them in Tesco it’s because I don’t think they are taking the threat seriously enough and I’m worried they’ll die!

For the PP saying about closing things, just seen Church is off for time being

I agree Jojo. There's a lot of chat in here about selfish younger people at the gym, but recently it is mainly the older people in there and younger staying away. for example, I mean.

My two (one a fit 79, the other a recently released from hospital 83) have just phoned to say how much they enjoyed their lovely pub lunch at lunchtime.

I run a women's social group and yesterday cancelled all upcoming events, one being a walk. One member doesn't see why the walk can't go ahead as it's outside. Also I walk my dog every day while listening to podcasts and today I came across a friend of mine out walking with a group. 'Oh' she said 'all our social plans have been cancelled so we're walking every day. You'll have to join us.' There are a lot of people who just don't get what social distancing and non-essential social gatherings means.