Anyone else's Parents swanning about as if they are immortal?

[Namechange2020onceagain]

Just had a chat with my Mum, she then asked if I want anything from B&Q as they are popping in there tomorrow! This is after they went shopping to Sainsburys this morning and then said they are going again on Friday.

I have said I will get any shopping they need, but they keep going out.

FFS they are both over 70 and my Dad will die if he gets the virus. They are not taking it seriously at all.

I would have laughed today if it wasn’t so crazy. Get together of neighbours organised on FB prior to yesterday’s announcement. Say about 20 people in someone’s average sized living room, median age at least 75. One of the younger guys (I’m talking early 60s) posted to suggest postponing it for obvious reasons. I and another person (similar age) weighed in to agree. I tried to phrase my refusal tactfully saying that if I unknowingly had it I would hate to pass it on to someone else. Reply came back: no, we’re going to carry on, it will be fine as long as we don’t kiss each other or shake hands!
Update later on that they had had a lovely afternoon and “nobody seemed ill”. Well that’s ok then.

My parents couldn't seem to give a toss. Dad out and about on the trains, mum at Pilates, supermarket, Poundland etc. They went to a friggin Northern Soul do at the weekend!

Seem totally unfazed

He then goes awol on Sunday evening. Monday he's telling me he was at a great "shutting the pubs down party" & the whole town was out for one last blow out & it was great, just like after the war😫

^^

Sorry

My mother went to Tesco today. She is 73 but says she'll pretend she's 69.

^..

Sorry I shouldn't laugh but honestly these people!

I'm late 60s and am carrying on as normal - I work full-time in forensic mental health. Today was my day off and I went to the supermarket, hairdresser and out for lunch. My DH is the same age and is also carrying on as normal.
We are not at all stupid (both university educated with good jobs).
We've lived through: Bird Flu, Swine Flu, all sorts of seasonal flu viruses, SARS, MERS plus a few others.
Winter of 62. Winter of 78 (I think it was) when my car was literally covered up to its roof in snow at my workplace and I had to walk 7 miles home from work late at night after a 14 hour shift.

I am very fit, I'm not expecting to get a bad dose of Covid19 (if at all). I am, however, taking a few more precautions with handwashing, wearing latex gloves etc but that is as far as it goes.
No hysteria and no stockpiling of food.

Plenty of very young (18/19/20ish) as well as older people at our very large workplace have the same attitude as me.

I'll be honest, I do feel that not all, but many younger people are "snowflakes". I'm fed up of hearing the word "anxiety" and knocking sick with a mental health day. We all have problems in life and it is up to us to cope with those problems.

I personally think that Covid19 will turn out to be nowhere near as serious as predicted. The powers that be are trying to scare us, as previously stated on this thread.
That's my twopenn'orth if that helps answer your OP.

Khione "Oh, and should I get CV19 seriously now - let me go, don't waste ICU on me"
Yes, this is my outlook also.

Do they realise most of the deaths have been people north of 60 with underlying conditions bar a few anomalies who are younger???

Why risk it?

I'll be honest, I do feel that not all, but many younger people are "snowflakes". I'm fed up of hearing the word "anxiety" and knocking sick with a mental health day. We all have problems in life and it is up to us to cope with those problems.
Lucky you to not have anxiety.

Mental health days is how people do cope.

Are you proud to have the same mentality as teenagers?

Lovepoppy if people who are spreading it have no symptoms as you say then we can all be carriers right?My DD has 4 hospital appointments in the next few months and an annual respite break booked for next week all of which could be cancelled at any time. I do not plan on putting my Dds health at risk nor those around her.
For those who say it'll be us DPs who'll be a drain in the nhs could the same not be said for the very young and disabled too?? Wow! The judgy pants are hitched high in regards to this virus.

LovePoppy
Don't be silly, I am simply pointing out that plenty of young people aren't taking it particularly seriously either.
I have yet to meet anyone who is self-isolating or worrying unduly.

NotWorried how serious do you think it is in Italy and Spain? And how do you think those in Italy feel as they are denied care when dying due lack of supply and age.

Whilst stories of popping to B&Q and M&S and continuing as normal amid the pandemic are fairly amusing this is irresponsible behaviour that is putting lives at risk. People are really not grasping this or believing what is happening, a possible 20000 people will die from this and I can’t understand the ‘it won’t be me’ mentality at all!! It will be someone, a mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother or other loved ones. why would anyone who has ever lost someone they love not try to prevent someone else going through that pain? Especially your own loved ones who could be left mourning your loss

@NotWorried51
We all have problems in life and it is up to us to cope with those problems.
But you’re not coping, are you? If you’ve been given guidance on what to do and you can’t/won’t do it, you’re the snowflake who can’t cope.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-nhs-doctor-warns-we-are-already-at-breaking-point-11958542

My older neighbour (80s fit healthy socially active and sharp as a button) laughed and said ‘stuff and nonsense’ in so many words when I offered general support in case she needed it a few weeks ago.
Texted her ‘offer of a shop or similar is still on and don’t hesitate to call for chat/help’ to which I got call - we had good general chat and she said towards end of random stuff that she was popping out to her voluntary homeless lunch kitchen job and would pop into shops on way her home for a few bits and bobs’.
I mean bloody good for her - she’s an absolute inspiration - remarkable woman. But really !

It is simply not true that only the very elderly who we can imagine "would have died soon anyway" will get sick.

Read the sky news article above it quotes an NHS Doctor saying...

I have looked after more than one patient who is in their early 60s with minor or no health complaints and who exercises regularly.

I’ve also seen some stats coming out of France where a VERY high percentage were under the age of 40 in hospital.

If there are a lack of ventilators the NHS will be forced to prioritize the younger generation, I believe Boris would be saying these exact words if he could without causing panic and a backlash, but this is what is happening in other countries.... doesn’t anyone think it’s odd that we haven’t seen much on tv about what’s unfolding in other countries!!.... maybe there’s a deliberate reason for that!!! So the younger generation are more “online” and the UK hadn’t gone in to lock down as early a stage at what Italy has.... do the numbers!!

Italy went into lock down 7 days after 17 deaths..... day 11 in the Uk had 55 deaths ... we are still not on lock down, the I’m is following a different strategy. I’ve seen video posts of front line doctors in Italy warning the rest of the world to lock down now.... and saying what on earth is the I’m doing!!

I think it's because they have lived through worse
They really haven't, they just think they have. Our whole society has been pretty well protected from most of the shit things that happen round the world.

UK not l’m

I should repeat when Italy had 17 deaths they went into lock down, it took 7 days to reach 17 deaths! Their death rate has risen and risen since due to folk that were already carrying CV and didn’t know, it is very contagious!!

My mum is still talking about 'booking a table' for Mother's Day, it's infuriating. In the family we have lots of children and lots of people in the vulnerable category. She said she's avoiding people yet yesterday she was out on a mission to buy flour to make pies with.

My friend runs a building which is hired out by various groups - all have been cancelled except a group of 70+ who meet for a natter twice a week. My friend told them to stop, she refunded their hire fee back to them and yet they still turned up. She's locking up for a few weeks on Friday and so they won't be able to get in after then but they honestly blame her as if it's just her telling them they can't go in. Crazy!

The type of work DH does involves going to people's homes - the amount of non emergency appointments made by the elderly is astounding. He's been making excuses not to go in, like asking questions about coughs etc and not for his own benefit. He's so worried about spreading the virus but his company haven't changed their practices yet and the elderly keep booking appointments. They are definitely addressing it, it's just difficult to negotiate for them due to their services.

Nono I saw your post on another thread.

It is a huge deal.

My parents are just like this. They run a fairly large shop and are still going about as normal. They are both fit and healthy, but Dad is 71 in May and Mum isn't far behind.

I spoke to Mum yesterday and it was like she'd been hiding under a rock. I know they watch the news, read the papers and are following this generally - it's as though they've blocked it out now the advice actually requires them to do something. I don't think they realise either that they won't see us or our children for a while now, because were following the advice and not seeing anyone unnecessarily.

I know what Dad will say - 'Who is going to do XYZ at the shop if I'm not there?' - the same person who will do it if you're in hospital on a ventilator Dad.

My dad is 73 and mum 75. Dad is refusing to work from home even though he can. His rationale - he cycles to work so he won’t get it.
My mum just does not seem to understand what social distancing means . She’s said things like “but we can still go to the beach at Easter” “I can still meet my friend for lunch” “everyone’s said they aren’t going to knit and natter so I felt bad for the people who organise it so I said i will still go”

I think you just have to be really blunt with them.

In Italy they triage by age, people do not get care by age. That will be here in about three weeks (choose your own timescale). You will not get a bed / ventilator or help.

Irresponsible.
If they get it they should just deal with it at home and not bother the NHS at all then!