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.

Yes, she’s in the flu jab group. She and I think the school she works at will use this as an excuse to force her to retire. Great, eh?

Awful, all the schools I know have been excellent re flu jab risk and closed years as a result

Risk group

Most of the old people in our village are carrying on as if it's a normal day!

Mine are the same. But not because they think they're invincible; they're just very pragmatic about death. Their argument is "we're all going to die some day, and we'd rather die going about our daily lives and actually living than hiding at home, afraid and alone". Which I do kind of get, and fair enough to make that decision for yourself, but the problem is that you then by extension make it for others too.

Just spoke to my Dad, was chatting about the measures they need to take and explained their friends cannot be coming round for a cuppa etc, he said no it will be fine as long as we sit away from each other explained once again that people can have the virus and show no symtoms and still spread it about.

He still didn't sound convinced, then I mentioned about Coronation Street filming has been cancelled for however long, that got his attention. FML

This really isn't about just older people not taking this seriously, I have seen young people also endangering themselves and others. We need an enforced lockdown now.

Yes, my mum. She's an intelligent, competent person, who still works (or rather did, the place has now closed which is silly and dramatic, apparently), but she refuses to accept that anything bad will happen. I've tried everything to persuade her, including showing her what is happening to elderly people in Italy, but she just insists I'm being ridiculous.

She has had pneumonia in the past, and I genuinely think she can't get her head around the idea that the kind of care she received then may/won't be able available to her. She's adamant that if she becomes ill, she will be treated, she'll recover and all will be fine.

On the other hand, my in-laws do get it, and are staying at home.

I can well understand people don't get what's ahead and think dying is better than isolation but it's so horribly selfish when their actions now are going to put medics in impossible situations. I could cry thinking about it.

That's the thing - three members of my family are medics. Two are working at the frontline with infected patients but my mother won't even listen to them. Even when I pointed out that her grandson might be in the position of having to let people like her die because there won't be resources to help them, she insists that will never happen here.

My 67 year old dad went to the gym today and his yoga class and my mum was still going full steam ahead with her spa weekend this weekend. I've given them both reality check and mum is postponing her weekend. It beggers belief!

After thinking my parents were doing well, I’ve just discovered that my dad went to have his hair cut at the barber’s. No comprehension that he shouldn’t. He said a man has to have his hair cut and laughed at me.

He went silent when I told him someone had died in their town.

Saskia that is frightening. I assume Italy situation and our numbers don’t change that view?

My 67 year old dad went to the gym today and his yoga class

Why wouldn’t he? He’s not over 70!

We’re all not meant to do that

MarshaBradyo No, she can't accept that if this can decimate the Italian health service the same could happen here. She has this overwhelming confidence in the NHS (which is laudable) but can't or won't believe that no matter how great it is, it is not invincible and has finite resources.

It is terrifying. I've been in a state of anxiety for the last five days because I can see something awful happening to her, and she refuses to do anything do prevent it.

Oh that’s so hard I know how you feel. I haven’t slept for four nights, just on all the time. Horrible.

My grandparents who one is recovering from cancer a colostomy bag fit within the last 4 months just got back off a weeks cruise and are going about their day to day lives

MIL (74) just told DH she'd let the gas meter man in because she didn't want to be rude.
How ,any bloody houses has the gas man visited before he got to her ffs?
She just isn't getting it at all. She's already on antibiotics for a chest infection but doesn't want to tell family not to visit as it feels mean.

Yup, my mother in her 80's ( very fit) has been self isolating for 3 days, but is now bored.
Much talk of the war and how things were much worse then.
Tomorrow she is catching a bus into the city with her friend ( same age)
They will be sitting in the main bus station waiting room for coffee from the vending machine for an hour or two then visiting charity shops for the afternoon.

Some of us are listening. I'm in my 60s, my DH in his 70s and we're now staying at home. It's not going to be easy but it has to be done.

I suspect a lot of people of all ages won't really take notice until they know someone who is seriously ill. We know someone who was hospitalised but is now home. That was a wake up call for us.

For all those berating the ‘oldies’ for swanning about and ignoring the advice, for balance just try reading other threads on here, packed full of parents whining that they need to be able to go out as their children/toddlers will drive them crazy if on lockdown.

Some strong denial and some normality bias on show

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalcy_bias
“Normalcy bias, or normality bias, is a tendency for people to believe that things will function in the future the way they normally have functioned in the past and therefore to underestimate both the likelihood of a disaster and its possible effects. This may result in situations where people fail to adequately prepare themselves for disasters”

It’s natural, but it has to be overcome for everyone’s sake. It’s not just about ‘got to go sometime’ as others have pointed out. Its question of how you go (hospitals on war footing, not enough resources)- and are you harming others’ chances of life because of your carelessness.

Yes, my parents are both over 70, they went on a course last weekend and said as they were in close proximity to others they would probably have it if anyone else had. Since then they have been out and about shopping and asking if we need anything, he'd pop over, as my son has a nasty cough and we are all at home. Posted stuff through the window fortunately, no actual contact. Thank goodness all their usual activities are cancelled although my dad has a hospital appointment soon which I suggested he rings and cancels.

Yes, my parents are not in the UK but in another country which has not been fully hit yet but will be soon, very very badly (African country). They are 76 and both have serious health problems. My dad told me today that it is just the flu, no big deal, he has had it many times. My mother told me that they have hand sanitiser at the door of the supermarket so it will all be OK....

My Dad is still going doing his thing, if he gives it to Mum she won't recover. But he won't stop, he knows the risks and worries but still.

Drives me bonkers but nothing else I can do.