Supermarket special hour for the elderly WHO SHOULD BE AT HOME

[Haffdonga]

Apologies if this has been discussed but I feel like I'm missing something here.

The supermarkets have very decently offered to hold a shopping hour in the morning for the elderly and vulnerable. How kind. Except those very people they are inviting into the store should be self isolating which means not going shopping.

I know there are some in this group who can't or won't be self-isolating and some who urgently need to go shopping but some elderly people are taking this as a green light that it's ok to go shopping in those hours.

My parents (80s and very vulnerable health-wise) are doing their very best to follow the self-isolation guidelines, They can online shop and I live just round the corner and I pick up anything they need. They've just excitedly told me that they will be going to Sainsbury's 3 times this week because there are special sessions just for their age group. When I explained they shouldn't really be going out at all they asked then who should be going to the special sessions. This I can't really answer.

Surely by offering these sessions supermarkets are sending an incredibly confusing message to the people who should be self isolating.

I agree with you OP and think your original message is being lost because angry people are wanting to vent their spleens. It is confusing for elderly people, my neighbour and grandparents have both told me (when I've offered to shop for them) that they are going to shop in the "special, safe, time slots" just for them. Its very concerning that if they don't understand that it is still risky then they won't know to distance and protect themselves. It would be better if there was a way for someone to go for them in these time slots, or the supermarkets should be prioritising delivery slots for the 1.5 million vulnerable people who need to isolate for 3 months.

as was said quite clearly by Dr Jenny Hinnies ( I think I remember name correctly ) just a few minutes ago there are 1.5 million people who are vulnerable and are going to be asked to stay home for 12 weeks this is not everyone over 70 which is about 8.7 million
She said the elderly with underlying health conditions and some younger also with health conditions would be asked to stay home
a reasonable fit 70 year old (the kind of person that is on no medication at al)l doesn't need to self isolate and can go out when essential; some of these over 70's will be the partner carer of some more elderly and vulnerable
so looking at above figures that is 7 million over 70's that should be practising social distancing rather than self isolation it is for them that the hour shopping is for the truly vulnerable 1.5 million should not be out and as seen from government briefing there is a scheme coming within 2 days that these people will have assistance if they have no families friends or neighbours around

I agree with you OP. It is a confusing message.
In the press release just now they were talking about setting up hubs so that people with no support from friends and family would still get supplies, so if that works it would be more effective