Shops opening for elderly from 9-11. Am I missing something?

[jaffacakes16]

Before I read the riot act to my elderly at risk parents can I get some reassurance I’m right on this.

It appears a number of Lidl stores and shopping centres in my area are operating “elderly opening hours” where that group are encouraged to shop at a particular time of day. Surely this is absurd encouraging all the at risk to congregate without the knowledge if they are carriers and break the advised isolation?

I think the specific hours are to give a very vulnerable group the opportunity to stock up on essentials before the rabid masses hit the shops to loot another 120 toilet rolls each, leaving nothing for others. Not all high risk individuals will have someone who can shop for them.

True, my parents however do have people to deliver their supplies and are seeing it as somewhere safe to go

I would guess it is relatively safe if you assume that people in their age group who are affected will almost certainly have severe symptoms so are unlikely to get to the shops or if they do they'll be easy to spot and avoid. Sadly nowhere is completely safe for now though.

Wish they’d do the same for all high risk people actually.

I think it is a great idea because the elderly still need to buy food and not everyone has someone to get things in for them or knows how to sort online deliveries (even if they could there are no slots).

I think it will make the experience a lot less stressful not worrying about the stupid panic buyers getting aggressive with them over a packet of pasta.

I think it’s a fantastic idea to help all the elderly who genuinely don’t have anyone to help them and have to compete with panic buyers just to get a tin of beans, but you’re right to read the riot act to your parents. Perhaps ask them what protection a free bus pass gives them?

At the moment, the shops seem to be very busy (according to Google) first thing in the morning. This reduces the crowding and therefore the number of people in the shop while those at risk are shopping, it seems very sensible.

Great idea I wish they'd extend to those severely disabled as well.

I find it frustrating as the fit and healthy older people I know are the ones who have been coming back from the supermarkets with masses of loo rolls, bottled water and baby formula as it doesn't go off for tea!!!

Leaving nothing for families who can't shop because they are working still...

They need to bring in rationing purely because some people have been so selfish, then no-one would be able to bulk buy things they don't need regardless of age.

They need to bring in rationing

What type of rationing?

The supermarkets - not allowing people to buy more than 1/2 of some items, Aldi have limited customers to no more than 4 of all items, but even that is more than most people would buy of some things. What normal family would go through 4x24 pack of loo roll in a regular weekly shop.

My bloody Grandma (78) and with no plans to self isolate was gloating about how her trip to Iceland was so good today and she was really able to stock up!

The supermarkets - not allowing people to buy more than 1/2 of some items

If it works, that would be great but I imagine people will just Smurf (I think that's the term for accumulating items through multiple purchases). Personally, I believe it will be over before a more advanced system could be implemented.

What if you are a very young-looking elderly person?

I think it's great.

Same as they do the autism hour.

But it should be elderly and disabled/ at risk group.

My ds has physical disability requiring him to use crutches at times. He's struggling in crowds right now. I can't imagine how anyone who uses a wheelchair must be feeling.

I'm an old-looking young person, can I sneak in? Seriously though, my only time to shop is on the way into work of a morning so between 8 & 9, so I hope that the idea isn't too widespread. Perhaps they could do it just on specific days of the week?

@Gronky I'm not surprised but at least a 1/2 item limit would slow the process down a bit. I agree the panic buying will stop before this becomes the new normal - dosn't stop it being frustrating in the mean time.

Only problem I have with it is that pensioners bus pass doesn't start til 9.30am and shops generally open well before that time.

I see your point op - I read the incubation period can be up to 14 days so it’s entirely possible someone could go to these special opening hours not knowing they’ve got it and then end up giving it to a greater number of at risk people.

I really think that over the next couple of weeks, those inclined to hoarding will have done so and the shelves will return to more normal levels of stock. Provided the supply chain is able to keep going, people will regain confidence.

Everyone is just being a little more cautious than usual, a relatively small number are panic buying. I don't believe the myths about baby formula being used for tea etc. But myths of this nature send gullible people into further panic and reinforce the idea that they are missing something and need to over compensate.

For instance, I'm due to give birth any time and have therefore bought 1 tin of formula as a precaution. Had all this not being going on, i wouldn't have bothered, as I could have sent DH out at any time should the need arise.

Does anyone know if this is actually happening? I can’t find any solid info from Aldi.

I can see this has some good to it, but I think the focus should be on setting up networks to contact and deliver supplies to those who need it. Coming into contact with public surfaces and shop staff and others who might not be isolating properly would be bad, and God forbid if they get there on the bus!

It just seems to be encouraging confusion about the level of isolation really needed.