To ask how do you convince the over seventies to self isolate?

[Rainbowb]

Both my mum and my mother in law are declaring that everybody is hysterical, world has gone mad etc. and are going about everywhere, almost as normal. Both my brother and dh are getting so upset and I am worried too but I don’t know how you can force people to stay at home? The older generation are so stubborn!

Do you mean the over 70s that you know OP, and any other posters writing about their elderly relatives.

I'm 71 I haven't been anywhere since Tuesday when I went out to buy food, and no I didn't panic buy, apart from walking the dog in deserted fields near my house.

I know a couple of people, one in his 80s and one in his 90s who are also not going out, except for exercise.

Some of us over 70s aren't stupid funnily enough.

This sounds trivial but one thing they could do is stop telling us to stay 2 metres apart when that whole generation were never taught metres. Would it be so hard to say “2 metres or six feet”?

Why just the over 70s? You only have to look at the media today to see hundreds of families overwhelming shops and tourist spots.

Seen loads and loads of middle aged and young people crowded into pubs on the news up until they closed on Friday. And loads of youngster in crowds together near where I live.

Is there any way anyone can persuade them to stop going out and spreading the virus? Or is their spreading different from the over 70s?

I assume because the over seventies as an age group. are more at risk than younger families generally speaking Alexa ?Obviously there are always variables

No.but younger people providing they are healthy will have a much better chance of surviving the virus pigs ,a lot of people over 70 including my mum particularly if they have underlying health issues. Of which my mum has several have a much poorer chance of surviving the virus .

@Rainbowb

If it's just a normal 70+ without health problems then it is "social isolation" - just avoiding non-members of your household. You can still go out walking.

What happens - for example - to a NHS worker who lives with his/her mother of 70+?

My Mum who is over 70 is still going out and about. She self isolates when she doesn't have anything else to do
What concerns me the most is she visits my grandparents who are in their 90s and has said she'll take them out in the car to get them out

I was out with the dog earlier.

It was the older ones who kept to the other side of the path & went single file.

Bloody families were the ones taking up the whole path, not moving over at all, let alone single file!

I’d just get them to sign a waiver to say that if and when they catch it they don’t expect the NHS to treat them and let them get on with it. I’m fed up with selfish people of all ages now .

Plenty of under 70s not observing social distancing . These threads are tiresome.

Young people can also die of this x2boys, although it's likely to have a worse effect on people like your mother.

It must be an awful worry for you with your mother but you can only keep repeating your advice and refusing to go to her house or allowing her to come to yours.

She's an adult, she'll do what she wants even if it's not in her best interests.

I don't understand that attitude but an awful lot of people seem to feel the same way, not just the old, which is why we need a lockdown.

I hope you manage to make her see sense.

Please though, don't assume that all older people are like that.

I work with a lady who is 70, ive told her she shouldnt be at work...retail....and shes said shes no intention of giving up work and they (employer) cant make her. The manager has spoken to her at length but shes not having any of it.

I’m pregnant and have an underlying condition. I’m trying to virtually isolate as I’m off work anyway.

My husband could work at home but his employer (who is extremely at risk) won’t let them, but is letting some colleagues bring their kids into work...

My brother in law came back from Spain and carried on as normal when he should have been self isolating.
His son just got back from uni and was supposed to isolate, he’s carried on as normal.
His wife works as an air hostess and is going to work normally.

Who visited them all three times this week and still expected to come to mine for dinner tonight? Flipping MIL.

She’s 74, insists it’s not age related and only people with health conditions are at risk. She insists it’s “just flu” and I’m being ridiculous.
She’s getting the bus everywhere, going to gatherings and visiting people who should be isolating.

Oh and she thinks my morning sickness is made up too lol so I guess she is consistent at least 😂

These idiots will be low priority when it comes to allocating ventilators and rightly so.

But a lockdown is inevitable I think. The PM today sounded very frustrated. It was a last warning and it won’t be heeded by the halfwits (young and old), so lockdown will come.

Surely people over 70 are advised to be very careful to follow social distancing? They arent yet being advised to self isolate. I suspect the plan is for people to stock up if they can, ready for more stringent measures to come.

My neighbour is over 70 and is staying in, she is bored and fed up but can phone for a chat or talk through the fence.

She was worried about running out of some things as she is eating more due to being home all the time so we picked them up for her. She doesn't like asking anyone else although there are people checking on neighbours.

People are talking through windows and ends of drives. At least our road seems to have sensible people. Hearing shouts of ' stay away' as children see their friends in the street.

Inlaws are also observing the 'rules'.

They are aware of the situation and want to get through it without killing anyone, including themselves. I haven't seen any older people out today at all, a few yesterday but only walking and not near anyone else.

I am hoping for stronger measures to stop those that are being cavalier with the lives of others, of all ages.

My Nan is 90.

We had a simple chat:

“That’s fine if you don’t want us to social isolate as long as you’re aware that you’ve got at least a 50% chance of dying before the summer?”

We’re social isolating on the basis that I stop talking about death.

To be fair, current guidelines are that over 70s should be strict on social distancing, so no visits with germy grandchildren, no non-essential visitors, going out for essential reasons only - essential GP appointment, grocery shopping, pharmacy. And while out, being strict with hygiene, maintaining 2m distance and making sure you wash your hands as soon as you come home. That's why there are times at supermarkets for vulnerable people to go.

Not self-isolation, which is basically shutting the door to your house and not going out at all, all deliveries made to your front door and you collect it without ever seeing the delivery person. That's recommended if you are symptomatic or if you are clinically vulnerable.

the big problem is that you cant get deliveries I have tried! as a compromise we are doing pre-order & pickup but it isn't at our local & one of us (presumably) has to get out of the car & mix to a certain extent. Obviously some essential goods may not be in stock - the thing that bugs me (& I am being -sort of! -light hearted)is my hair I have it cut every 6 weeks - I am going to look like a shaggy sheep dog - at least I don't have my hair dyed or highlighted! I can see this hair style becoming fashionable!

My mum says she has about 3 weeks' food in, the only thing she will need is milk. She will go out for a walk every day and otherwise stay at home and hopes the weather will be good so she can stay in her garden.

She also has a small village shop nearby where she can get her milk so no need for a supermarket shop.

I don't assume all older people like that Pigs and, I'm well aware younger people can also die of this, it's far more likely to.be younger people with existing health issues though ,the vast majority of younger healthy people with no existing health issues will be fine that's what we keep .being told anyway .

But of course the problem with young healthy people catching it whilst they might be fine they could pass it on to someone who is more vulnerable and not be fine .

Ilovesooty sorry if my problems are too tiresome for you, I’ll ask dh to find a more interesting reason to cry with frustration