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Coronavirus

Frustrated with parents!!

(147 Posts)
Youcantchoosethem Sat 04-Apr-20 11:06:20

My parents won’t stop going out! They are both elderly, both have heart conditions - my father had seven stents put in last year, had several mini strokes and has high blood pressure and mum has angina and an irregular heart beat. They have a neighbour who offers all the time to do shopping for them, I have managed to get them a milkman shortly before all this kicked off, and have been very occasionally successful in getting an online shop. I live 150 miles away and an also vulnerable following organ failure a few years ago so can’t help directly, but phoning again this morning they are not in. Yesterday they “oh we just popped up to the Tesco express and the bank - didn’t need much” - and this is most days it seems! I know they find it hard to stay in but for goodness sake!! Finding it so hard to keep my temper with them! Just needed to rant...

How on earth do I get them to understand?! I have tried telling them the stories and the risks but it’s oh it doesn’t matter us just going up the road to the shop... we wanted to give the car a run so went into the town.... aghhhhhh!

Yangste1007 Sun 05-Apr-20 12:21:19

Even though we are getting papers for my parents every morning and offering to get anything else they need, my parents are still going out as well . They are getting sneaky about it though. They only live a couple of roads away from us and we can see if their car is there when we walk our dog. Invariably it isn’t but they deny going anywhere. We’ve started checking where the valves on their tyres are positioned!

3nanny6 Sun 05-Apr-20 12:14:12

Nannan2 : I am particularly worried about being allowed out for a little bit of exercise which I heard this morning on the radio the government are considering doing. That small slot for exercise is something that even Mental health practitioners are saying is important and for some people is all that is keeping them holding onto to some sanity. One person taking a walk alone and keeping complete social distancing is adequate to stay safe. I do think they should tell couples to walk separately and people to exercise/walk alone.

TATT Sun 05-Apr-20 12:12:41

As difficult, boring, frustrating and ‘inconvenient’ it is, we must stick to the requirements. The longer this all goes on, the greater the chances of civil unrest, especially if we get a glorious summer. If civil unrest does ensue, what will the lockdown look like then?

geekesse Sun 05-Apr-20 12:08:37

Look, I haven’t been within 20 yards of another human being for 14 days. I am making sure, rather more carefully than many of you, that I don’t risk infecting anyone else. But I’m not condemning all of you who have to go for a bit of shopping or walk your dogs in public places. Some of you are making vicious personal attacks on me because I do nothing more than offer a theoretical defence of those who choose to interpret the law in a different way to me. Look to yourselves. If you’ve taken a more responsible attitude than I have, go ahead and bitch at me.

Rosalyn69 Sun 05-Apr-20 12:07:26

I like to think we are all doing our best to do the right thing.
I am staying in. I know if I get the virus it’s very likely I won’t get a hospital bed. I have had the conversation with my son that in all likelihood I will die alone and it’s alright. I love him and he needs to look after the cat.
Unfortunately not everyone does the right thing but it’s freedom of choice - or selfish if you wish.

Nannan2 Sun 05-Apr-20 12:04:23

Where are you Joesoap? Because i thought MOST of other countries now had much more strict rules in place,more than britain even! Its ridiculous! How can they not see its going to last a lot longer,and KILL many more, if they dont stay in? And i think government need to knock the 'excercise allowed' rule on the head too- IF youve got a garden,use that instead- if youve no garden,then exercise INDOORS! HOW HARD CAN IT BE???Open a window or door for fresh air,but what's with the sudden need to go out especially among people who hardly ever bother anyway.

3nanny6 Sun 05-Apr-20 12:01:02

I know these are most difficult times with all of us trying our best.

Keeping things light-hearted get the police around to give them a telling off. Ask the council to slap an A.S.B.O on them and have them electronically tagged so they are curfewed at home. I am sure your father will be quite annoyed but he will have to comply.
I am only looking for a solution for you and know this could not happen but we must keep all the people at home as much as possible particularly the naughty pensioners.

earnshaw Sun 05-Apr-20 12:00:47

that is so frustrating, what on earth are their excuses for going out, we have not been told to stay in without good reason, , just do not understand

Hetty58 Sun 05-Apr-20 12:00:28

Niucla97, the 'I'll take my chances' brigade (those ignoring the rules) seem to be incapable of understanding that their behaviour is dangerous to others.

You wish there was a hotline - but there is. Their local police might be able to talk some sense into them. Here it's call 101 for non-emergencies.

Bluekitchen192 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:56:46

We assume that anyone taking 'the car for a run' may not be altogether on line so here are a few thoughts

Ask if you can have a copy of their 'living will' The form is downloadable on line but you can send them the form. Insist you need their instructions on end of life treatment.

Tell them the photos if the thirteen year old boy' coffin being lowered into the ground by strangers in hazmat suits made you cry. It did me.

Send them some information on being fitted with a ventilator. Very u comfortable but I hear that mostly people are sedated first now.

Tell them that you have read somewhere that the Government may start charging for ICU treatment i n some cases/deny ICU treatment to others but you can't remember where you saw it. This is especially effective if they dont like Tories.

Tell them you cant stop crying since the five year old/nurses/retired doctors died.

Tell them my friend's husband died even though he was isolating. The family assume one of them picked up the virus while shopping for him. They are not ill, and not all of them can go to the funeral.

Tell them that life insurance may not pay out in these condirions. Ask for a copy of their Wills

Any one of these thoughts dropped into the conversation should help them to concentrate. Dint try to tell them what to do.

Gizzy48 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:56:26

Nan 79
"they are the ones spreading the virus, not us seniors".

Oh. Oh, oh, oh. It only takes ONE contact to infect you. Just visiting family would be enough
The clincher is this 14-day incubation period. You don't know for 2 weeks that you're infectious, so you could still pick it up from one person you were so sure was "safe"

And if you have read the rest of this thread, it should be obvious to you that in many cases it IS seniors who flout the rules. Where I live I have not seen many gatherings since the lock down, though I have seen quite a few pairs of people, with or without children, pass by our house - but they are always distant from others, and very likely from the same family. Exercising their right to exercise (oooh)

gillybob Sun 05-Apr-20 11:55:44

My dad is the opposite . He is taking it all very seriously and letting me do all of the running around . He will be safe . I on the other hand might be a very different story .

Tergly Sun 05-Apr-20 11:53:37

Gizzy48

Brilliant post. You have hit the nail on the head!

Nannan2 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:53:30

No,its not the really young ones,my college age son& university age son& their friends are all so afraid of not having a future that they are all following the rules to the letter and have been since before their education ended.its the older end doing this mostly,surely if theyre not bothered for themselves they could be bothered about putting everyone else at risk? People who have a whole life to live yet,like children& young people? ( news said a 5yr old died yesterday from it!??) How do other countries manage this problem-Italys got more older people??Its possibly just the sheer bloody-mindedness of the British older generation- which helped them in the war- but as said,this is an unseen enemy!!!angry

Laurely Sun 05-Apr-20 11:53:20

Gizzy: Please reread geekesse's original post. She states that she goes out for only an hour a day, and then walks where she will see no one. She is following the guidelines, but not taking extreme measures. She says she will not put others at risk by being reckless. Please don't be cross with her.

Your point is that many of us will be carrying the virus and not be aware of it. A valid point: we must practise social distancing, and limit our outings to the essential. Geekesse is doing this.

Her point is that she has come to terms with the knowledge that she is not immortal - she accepts that death is inevitable.
I think she is a brave woman.

Blossomsmum Sun 05-Apr-20 11:52:38

First of all we are following the rules ,
BUT
Us oldies are from a generation that remembers TB and Polio and typhoid epidemics and how we were expected to carry on with normal life then plus getting out in the fresh air and sunshine was encouraged as a way of staying well .
I am very well aware that viral infections are very different from bacteria ones and may be a little eduction for the oldies in your family would help them accept that this situation is very different .

Joesoap Sun 05-Apr-20 11:52:34

Where I live, not the Uk, there arent many restricions in place, life seems to be going on as usual wih a few exceptions, over 70,s should be at home, but the shops and chemists are all right to visit, consequently these places are full of over 70,s.There arent really many rules here which annoys me, the shops have JUST started to mark the ONE meter distansing.We can meet neighbours etc in our own gardens not indoors, we then have to sit a meter apart, there seems to be a double message going out here,I wish somebody would put their foot down and make stricter rules! I must add the death toll isnt as bad as anywhere else YET

polnan Sun 05-Apr-20 11:49:23

I live alone, very recently bereaved after nearly 50 years of marriage and even before then, never lived on my own.

Just setting my scene

I think the people, be they young or old, or whatever, are being selfish,,
it`s the ME, ME, ME syndrome..

cross infection, infecting others,, prolonging this ...

selfish, in my opinion.. I am struggling.. but I am trying to do what the "experts" consider to be the best at the moment

Grannygrumps1 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:48:45

I’ve just been out for the first time (other than a walk) in a month. I was collecting new born nappies that my son had bought for his sisters baby. Baby was born 8/3 and she was having trouble getting small nappies. He wouldn’t take them to her. I was shocked to see most of the people out in their cars were nearly all elderly. ( I’m 63) There was no reason for them to be out at 10:00am driving on a Sunday morning. My son was cross with me for going out and made me feel bad.

suttonJ Sun 05-Apr-20 11:48:20

Utterly disgusted with those who continue to flout the guidelines...whether youngsters or elderlies. If they were only putting themselves at risk...we'll so be it.
The message to attempt to get through to them...YOU ARE KILLING PEOPLE.
And if they don't hear it, then I'm afraid that there should be a call to the local police (who, let's face it, don't want to be assuming this 'big brother' role but have no choice.

Nitpick48 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:48:17

I know people say I’ve had a full life and don’t mind dying, but if you see the way people are dying in hospital, alone and in agony, on a respirator, no family to hold your hand or say goodbye. Maybe no-one to your funeral. (Apart from the cold hard fact you’d be taking up a hospital bed) for people to say “I’m not going out of my way to protect myself” well, words fail me.

Jillybird Sun 05-Apr-20 11:46:54

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Luckyjfl Sun 05-Apr-20 11:46:29

Hi, I feel really sorry for you, because I know sooner than later, your Parents may get this virus and pass it on. Both myself and my wife are over 70. And have been inside our house for 3 weeks now. We wil stay here until we are told it is safe to leave it. Thank God for Kindle and anything else we can do to make it a bit better. I do hope that your a Parents keep safe and also yourself. Bye for now.x

Tweedle24 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:44:49

Is it worth stressing the danger they are putting other people into? I can understand them not being worried about themselves but, maybe if you point out that by going out so often they could be spreading the virus, they might be more inclined to stay in?

Nannan2 Sun 05-Apr-20 11:44:41

I tried loads of times to call sainsburys in end you have to sign up to gov.org website- you can do that for them- then they send you an email,then they let NHS know and DWP-,then it eventually gets to sainsburys! Who email to let you know youre on priority list! Theyve let me know i can be allowed on it this week so have booked 11th.but by then my £12 off vouchers expired( wasnt one before it ran out!) So you'd think theyd allow it,but no!- anyway thats what you do to get on it.