Coronavirus - are older people being treated as expendable?

Why is everyone so willing to carp and complain. The whole world is in an unforeseen and unplannable situation with a new virus with no history to base plans on.

Italy, Germany and Spain have some of the most draconian measures, but they haven't had much effect.

Monica There are some on here that would appear to relish the idea of thousands dying in order to give them the opportunity to descend en masse on this forum gloating and pointing their fingers at the Tories. The hatred and bile is visceral. I'm going to skype with grandsons and not engage in anymore for the time being.

annepl, my Tesco deliveries do not come from a |Tesco shop they come from a huge warehouse quite far away.

Not testing for the virus is a bad move, but will keep BOJO's numbers down, and I would imagine that the DWP will be laughing behind closed doors as all us 'useless eaters' and many of the non working population will be greatly thinned out .

That is a truly appalling thing to say.

eazybee - is it?

Having been at the sharp end of the Tory policies over the last decade, currently in great financial hardship, and as one of the 'useless eaters', it is appalling, not in the way you mean, but sadly, it is exactly how it is!

I have just come out of hospital after emergency bowel surgery, I have some help at home but I have been unable to find a female carer for months since my carer left due to a change of circumstances after being with me for 5 years - they won't come out to me (I live in a village so there are extra fuel costs) for the £10 an hour which is how much I am allowed to pay them on Direct Payments ... therefore because I have care hours, I was told I had to use them to deal with my post op care - didn't matter how much I told them I could not find anyone before, never mind at short notice, I was sent home without care. I have been unable to have a proper wash for over 2 weeks now - cannot shower as have a large abdominal wound that cannot get wet, and I am unable to reach much anyway so have to do what I can with a wet wipe. Unfortunately my wound has opened up now - probably because I am trying to do too much and am having to bend and stretch to try to reach, and is possibly tracking underneath which isn't good at all. As from next week I am expected to go to my surgery, despite in theory being unable to drive for another week.

My surgery was horrified that I was sent home with nothing and tried to do what they could, but the Reablement Team are only able to accept a referral from the hospital, so all I ended up with was a text with the names of 2 private carers, which I cannot afford - this is my Conservative local government that has left me in this mess, but they care not - they will come out for another review soon and still expect me to contribute to my care which I am unable to do, and have proved this to them on several occasions ... I am several hundred £ short every month to cover everything. So am having to consider selling my house - but how would I manage to move? I am unable to lift anything heavier than a kettle, moving costs apparently add up to around £30k - the Council disregard Mortgage and housing costs, so if I didn't have those, then they would take my extra income I have to pay for care, which I can't find anyway, so I would end up being in the same boat even if I did move - so what is the point .... I am so stressed that actually I do not really care much if the Coronavirus takes me out, life is bloody miserable when you cannot even afford to go out for a coffee and a bun once a month and that is a direct result of becoming ill and unable to work and having to rely on state support .... there by the Grace of God and all that ....

MadeinYorkshire There's nothing I can do, but think about you. I wish people would wake up to the truly horrible situation some people are in. More people need to speak out.

Just 2 days ago, a thread was very disparaging of nurses. Today, those same nurses and doctors are battling a minute virus wreaking havoc. They care for the young and old wanting to insure survival although they lack adequate equipment and are working very long hours. Please,take a moment to appreciate them...very few can do the job.

MadeinYorkshire I’m very sorry to read of your situation and wish you well. I only wish there was something I could do. Not helpful I know but I am sending you my best wishes.

MadeinYorkshire - I am so sorry.

This is happening all around the country and is nothing to do with coronavirus, but is to do with LAs having legal responsibilities but insufficient money to meet them.

For those who do not like the Tory bashing, consider this: www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/health-and-social-care-spending-cuts-linked-to-120000-excess-deaths-in-england/

I am aware that various studies on increased death rates during austerity stand accused of not being able to prove a causal relationship; but the BMJ is a reputable source and I think we should take what they say seriously.

Having just been in a situation of having to arrange care for my OH I know well the shortcomings of the system. He was discharged over Easter with no care at all - he was unable to walk, and could not stand; he was incontinent and in a confused state.

No-one at all should be left in the situation in which MadeinYorkshire finds herself. I do not know how old you are, but it might be worth contacting your local branch of Age UK. Or indeed your MP. Your situation is disgraceful.

madeinyorkshire contact your local radio.tv/local paper. There is nothing like publicity for shaming authorities into action.

People have been flagging up this virus for months. The lack of government action has been woeful. Richard Horton, a doctor and editor of the Lancelet
www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/18/uk-failures-over-covid-19-will-increase-death-toll-says-leading-doctor
weeks have been lost, but what is odd is that since Monday the UK and the US have suddenly decided to change course.

The hatred and bile is visceral

Who? Where?

Do you honestly think the media would be interested in madeinyorkshires situation?

MadeinYorkshire - could you not make an appeal to your neighbours for help? Is there a village website or a Facebook Page? I would call AgeConcern, they may be able to help you, especially if there are benefits that you may be able to claim. The only other body would be Social Services.

Just listening to The Moral Maze on R4. Now, I know people are meant to play devils advocate on the programme but did someone really just say that the school closures meant that that childrens education was being sacrificed to save old people?

Just texted my daughter to ask how things are going with her two small boys.

"I'm enjoying time with my family," she said, that's it. It clearly didn't occur to her that her dad and I are also her family.

It hurt. She's expressed dread over caring for the old and ill so I'm pretty sure she'd welcome our quick exit. I believe this is pretty common among millennials.

I can understand how hurt you feel. All I can say is, when I was a young mother with children my whole world revolved around them to the exclusion of everybody and everything.

Graymar yes I do. Cases like this are the bread and butter of local journalism.

Oh dear mebster, that is sad.

I haven 't come across any of the younger generations with that attitude yet.
We've heard nothing but concern, offers of help and instructions from the DC!

My daughter just texted us they are completely isolating with "family." (which doesn't include us). We will have no contact with them or our grandsons. She didn't bother to ask how we were feeling. We live five minutes away and have been heavily involved in the care of grandsons, especially the one with leukemia. The boys have spent two nights here in the past week. I'm so angry and upset I don't know what to do. I haven't responded to her text. Too upset now.

Oh, our niece who is an TV actress said tonight there's been open talk on the set about how great it will be if this kills off a lot of the boomers. She was shocked and mentioned her dad is a boomer. (Her mum died of breast cancer several years ago).

Mebster please don’t be upset with your daughter. She’s probably trying to protect you.
The standard advice both in the U.K. and the USA is that older people should not see their grandchildren.

Mebster, please don't upset yourself. Your daughter will not have meant to disrespect you. It's highly unlikely she is callous about your isolation. Probably she is unaware you take her comments personally.

It's proper to dread caring for the old and ill. You surely know this is the main problem facing the NHS at the moment. The old are the most likely people to be a charge on NHS resources. TGhis does not imply the old and/or ill are going to be neglected rather the opposite; much consideration is being applied to how the old and/or ill are to be cared for.

MadeinYorkshire, I am concerned for you. I do hope you will not feel I am impertinent and my ideas depend on whether or not you have a bit of energy for an upheaval.

1. Find a live in carer, say a homeless woman who would gladly exchange her labour for a roof over her head. A middle aged one not a young woman with a child, and obviously not alcoholic or similar.

2. Let your village house and rent a place in a town where there are unemployed female workers.

Get police checks for anyone whoever they are.

Age Concern should be able to help you with advice on available homeless women who are up for employment, and on how to get your employee police checked.

"Oh, our niece who is an TV actress said tonight there's been open talk on the set about how great it will be if this kills off a lot of the boomers. She was shocked and mentioned her dad is a boomer. (Her mum died of breast cancer several years ag"

Mentioning the elephant in the room is a good thing.

PS Daisymae's post is helpful. One of my daughters in law has in the past two week gone to live in a seaside village by herself. already she has had offers of help and has made friends with helpful young people. She is immunologically compromised.

I understand she finds something called WhatsApp helpful.