What do I do in this situation

[Icecreamcoffee]

My mother is 70.

I heard last week in the news that COVID was increasing in the community. She likes to go to town on the bus every week and I knew she was going to put herself at risk for an exposure.

She's now down with a sore throat and a headache. I reckon it's the start of COVID for her.

She can be extremely stubborn and refuses to help herself at times. She will make excuses about something as simple as a paracetamol citing it's bad for you. Even encouraging her to drink plenty of fluids - she will find fault with that too.

I live at home. I have work to go to. She has noone else.

Do I need to stay at home to mind her or see if she gets worse or what do I do or do I continue on as usual and go to work?

surely you just play it by ear. Sounds like she’s got a mild case, if it even is covid. If she’s generally in good health she’ll most likely be completely fine.

go on about life as usual until she asks you otherwise.

Has she got an other serious health conditions?
If not you sound unduly worried about her, she is 70 not 90! Lots of people I know that age are looking after grandchildren, volunteering, travelling the world. They would not consider going into town on a bus as a high risk activity.

Not your problem? She's a functioning adult who can make her own decisions so just let her get on with it.

It is no longer 2020. There are many other colds and viruses around, and presumably she’s had all her covid jabs anyway. You do sound somewhat overprotective and bossy. Does “i live at home” mean “I live with Mum in her home”?

And just follow your work's policy about whether to come in if you're living with someone with Covid (has she done a test?). Some workplaces are business as usual, some might ask you to mask or distance, some might still ask you to WFH if it is a confirmed case.

Mine is still handing out Covid tests and asking us not to come in if we have Covid but there isn't a restriction on if you live with someone with it.

'I knew she was going to.put herself at risk for an exposure'

So in your opinion she should never leave the house?! She's only got herself to blame?

She's 70 and able to think for herself.

Unless she asks for help, do nothing.

Unless she has other health issues, 70 isn't a doddery old lady. She can make her own choices. How would you feel if she was asking you not to go out?

She’s 70! She’s maybe got another 25-30 years to live! She can’t put her life on hold! Those years are for living, doing, learning, not for hiding away.

My friends are mainly in their 70s and 80s. I am one of the very few that have escaped Covid.

You go to work. At most you leave her with a flask of tea or coffee and something to nibble.