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Original poster

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

765 replies

Namechange2020onceagain · 17/03/2020 20:45

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.

OP posts:
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Leflic · 17/03/2020 23:20

No one wants loved ones to die, FFS. Obviously.
Also obviously they will one day.

Anyone can self isolate and then they won’t catch it. Dead easy,
Not sure why the old people who are out are being moaned at.

BuyingaHome · 17/03/2020 23:20

Mine are the exact same!!! My husbands parents are going away at the weekend!!! Wtf!

YgritteSnow · 17/03/2020 23:20

Oh mine are talking the talk but they were off to the garden centre this morning and stopped for a few bits at Morrison's after that. Not sure when they actually plan to self isolate.

Potkettlexx · 17/03/2020 23:22

@BrokenBrit

It sounds harsh but the thing that cut through to my best friends parents was that if they go out willingly and get it they are taking hospital beds and resources away from their children and grandchildren..

I absolutely think you’re right in the way they should look at it if it helps.

The reality is though that if they were on ventilators etc I thunk they would be taken off to make way for so bribe younger etc.... it’s the elderly that will die if they catch it

mindproject · 17/03/2020 23:22

Leflic - exactly. If you don't want it, stay in. If you're not that bothered, carry on as normal. I'm not that bothered. I don't know any old people or immune compromised, so I'm not being 'selfish'.

middleager · 17/03/2020 23:22

Yes. Aunt (had cancer twice) 75 insists she is only gong out for essential stuff
Shopping (I have offered to go)
Dentist

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

My friend's mother (77?) is picking her grandson up from school and going back to his house to make dinner. My friend is there with potentially CV and asked her mother to get the son and come in. The mother obliged.

My brother visiting my mother (73) for Mother's Day.

I've even shown them this.

Anyone else's Parents swanning about as if they are immortal?
Potkettlexx · 17/03/2020 23:22

To make way for the younger patients I mean

Bathroom12345 · 17/03/2020 23:24

We want to keep them safe and we’ll for years to come.

But they need to do their bit, if they don’t have we will end up having to do a France and that WILL include them. It won’t be optional for any of us.

Lynda07 · 17/03/2020 23:24

They haven't yet been told to stay at home (unless I've missed some recent news update). I'm sure they're very careful with hygiene, etc. However I wouldn't have thought B&Q was an essential shop. Doubt they got much in Sainsbury's either.

Poetryinaction · 17/03/2020 23:25

Yes mine. Came back from a UK holiday today, stopped for lunch, went out last night. Planning to be out and about as normal tomorrow.
No clue. They are high risk but don't seem to 'get it'.

Tr1skel1on · 17/03/2020 23:26

My mum is determined to go out and play golf. Apparently because it's outside it doesn't count. My Dad would be with her but his hip replacement ( which I'm unbelievably grateful he got. No follow up care). What do I do?! I loathe Boris but I thought they might listen to him

Original poster
Namechange2020onceagain · 17/03/2020 23:26

I'm not demonising older people, just trying to understand their mindset and wondering about where I can get shackles.

I am not in the group that should isolate, but I have as much as I can and when I do go out, I touch nothing with my bare hands and wash my hands eleventy billion times a day, I also clean everything that comes into the house (even the post, my postman was coughing away) to ensure it is safe. If everyone took precautions it would be over a lot quicker and a lot more people would live.

Thing is we all know to stay away from anyone that looks like a zombie ill, but a lot of people have no symtoms and just spread the virus. Anyone could have it and not know.

Clearly B&Q is going to be the epicentre of the virus.

OP posts:
NormHonal · 17/03/2020 23:27

Yep. Gave me reassurances that they are trying to avoid the supermarket, use their local (excellent and well-stocked) farm shop.

Then went to the bank to sort out a bank transfer - that they could have done online or on the phone! And they BOTH went. FFS!

DMum was in hospital a year ago and DDad has had immune system problems in the past. Both seemingly careful and paranoid about staying healthy over the years. I think I’m going to have to get their bank login and start doing it for them.

Bingeslayer · 17/03/2020 23:30

Yep my mum who's 65 and has copd has swanned off to a busy seaside caravan park for a week and going to barrs at night and shopping in the town each day

Lynda07 · 17/03/2020 23:30

They put me to shame in some ways, I'm more than willing to stay indoors - eager even - and hate shopping at the best of times. As long as they don't get too close to people, even if they see someone they know, and scrub hands when they reach home, they'll probably be alright. You have to be in contact with someone who has or is carrying the virus to catch it.

Lockdown is coming, your parents won't be going further than their garden then.

I'm so well ensconced in my home if I caught C virus I'd be a medical marvel.

Opendraw · 17/03/2020 23:31

Mine she is 85 and on public transport despite me telling her that her local shopping center was getting deep cleaned sales staff positive and 3 students local uni ... she turned it round on me have I been washing my hands and using anti bac ....

Lynda07 · 17/03/2020 23:32

Bingeslayer Tue 17-Mar-20 23:30:23
Yep my mum who's 65 and has copd has swanned off to a busy seaside caravan park for a week and going to barrs at night and shopping in the town each day
....
You're joking! Does she have a death wish?

I wonder how the locals feel about tourists right now.

FannyCann · 17/03/2020 23:33

I was discussing this with a colleague at work today. Their generation still prides itself on getting through the war and they think they can do it again. My Mother and Stepfather drive me nuts - when there's snow and ice or a flood, they still won't be deterred from driving off to lunch with friends or whatever, they nearly got caught in a flood a couple of years ago.
Anyway, they won't be contributing to this now because Mum is just out of hospital having fallen and broken a hip last week so that will clip their wings.

LittleRen · 17/03/2020 23:35

I think a lot of the older generation are more blasé as they have seen so much, been through so much etc. They have had most of their life... whereas the younger generation are more aware of their own mortality, scared of it, and many of us have young children who need us. I think unless they officially lock down it just won’t happen.

Inthedarknoir · 17/03/2020 23:35

Yes. Dad is due to have cancer surgery next week and can't have even a cold or it will be cancelled. Both still going about their business as usual and grandmother (in her 90s) still going to church and so on.

They just make jokes if I say they should be staying home. It is rather worrying.

Original poster
Namechange2020onceagain · 17/03/2020 23:35

You have to be in contact with someone who has or is carrying the virus to catch it

WRONG

The virus can live on surfaces (such as trolley handles) for as long as 3 days. It can hang about in minute droplets in the air for 3 hours on air currents if someone coughs or sneezes.

This is widely available information, why are some fucking morons not getting it?

OP posts:
Lynda07 · 17/03/2020 23:36

The person whose mum went to play golf: if she drives there, plays golf but doesn't socialise in the golf club afterwards, just drives home again, I daresay that will be safe enough.

QueenArseClangers · 17/03/2020 23:37

@mindproject are you going to start calling us ‘sheeple’ next? Hmm

IamHyouweegobshite · 17/03/2020 23:41

Not just the older generation... My dh is, in my opinion being irresponsible, myself and dd have had a cough since the weekend, we were at home yest, my other 2 at home today, yet my dh seems to think it doesn't mean he has to be off. Just had a go, through coughing, that he doesn't know what I've got, yet he's swanning off to work, wandering around an empty shop for the sake of it. His answer is well if I know you have cv then obv I'll stay off but u might have a cold. Arghh knob!

Bintheredunthat · 17/03/2020 23:45

My DM 84, pacemaker & lung problems is being very sensible & is not going out.
I am in isolation due to underlying health problems & will not be going out for 12 weeks as much as I’ll miss my family & little grandchildren & am horrified at the thought of it all.
I don’t want to be a burden to a struggling NHS, in fact it’s my duty to do all I can not to be & that means staying at home.
Nor do I want to die a horrible death, all alone in a warehouse, with no treatment as is happening in Italy because there are not enough ICU beds.
There won’t be anywhere near enough beds here if we don’t slow this damn thing down by sticking to the govt guidelines.
I don’t think a lot of older people have really understood why they need to stay in.
They think it’s to protect them, it really isn’t.
It’s to protect the NHS.
If we don’t control the speed of spread the NHS won’t have a hope in hell of treating everyone who needs it and many will be simply left to die.
I might be one of them, through no fault of my own because some people just want to do what they want without a thought for other people.
Are they really comfortable with the fact a child could die for want of an ICU bed they're occupying because they wanted to have coffee with their friends?