Should we ask over 60s to stay in?

Why?? Why should we ask over 60s to stay in when younger ones are still not following guidelines, meeting up in big groups, having parties, refusing to wear masks, the list goes on and on. Over 70s have already had six months of not going out. About time the younger ones acted a bit more responsibly.

henetha, I am in Swindon. brooding on this.

so can someone explain the thinking behind this idea?

over 60,, lock us up, regardless of any other point, ie. health, capabilities,,, etc... isn`t that a bit like Hitler? picking on the Jews and gypsies,, o.k a bit ott... but,,, just wide, wide discrimination... counting what we (over 60`s) cost, do, well we breathe!

why should we be locked up to go mental/mad! yes, I can get angry over this... just give us a pill to kill us off, ARGH!

and thankyou for that Rachand... 60 the new 40 then 80 the new 60!!

watch out EVERYONE they are coming for you!

Definitely not! I work hard to stay healthy and fit at 65. I am sensible at avoiding crowded places, people I don’t know and wear a mask. I feel therefore that I am doing all I can to prevent catching it without losing my freedom. We cannot prevent all risk in life or it would not be worth living.

I feel that if you are especially at risk, stay home and protect yourself. We are all grown adults and have the life experience by now to take informed decisions by ourselves.

Definitely not.

I personally don’t think anyone should be asked to stay in! I would like to think that most older people are sensible enough to know what to do and what not to do. We are early 70s and have actually got fitter and healthier over the past few months. We’ve walked over 500 miles, mostly in the open countryside. However we both normally do a lot of singing in choirs etc. The lack of social activity is taking its toll as is not being able to see our grandchildren so much. We haven’t even done any shopping till the past couple of weeks and no restaurants, but I’m pretty sure that if we were told to stay in I would be suffering from a serious case of depression!

Certainly not if they are fit to go out like myself who’s 64, I think nothing of doing a 7 mile country walk, plus I go to Pilates, yoga classes and if I say so myself I am in just as good shape as the youngsters. To make me stay in doors would make me feel like slitting my wrists. It’s people with severe health conditions who maybe shield if that’s best for them. I certainly don’t think people should be forced to stay indoors. I would add I do wear a mask in shops etc, and constantly slapping on the hand sanitizer and always throughly wash my hands when I get home. Also I do limit who I see .So far so good my system is working.

Possibly yes, for those retired? I think my outings that have not been to the doctor, hospital, or dentist you can count on one hand. It does get frustrating but that's better than being dead!!

No, it's as pointless as saying all 18 to 34 year olds should stay indoors - after all, they are being blamed for being super spreaders by some. I think it's important to be sensible and follow guidelines, but that's the crux of the matter isn't it? Quite a lot of people (of all ages) are not being sensible and that irresponsibility is partly to blame for the mess we are in now along with all the conflicting messages/advice being bandied about by various bodies, which is leading to much confusion and argument.

Apparently from what we're hearing, the virus is being spread mainly by young people in the 18-24 category so maybe the question is 'should this age group not be allowed out?'

Surely common sense must prevail in this instance. Anyone of any age that might be vulnerable would want to protect themselves, wouldn't they? It doesn't need to be law enforcement. Of course many people have responsibilities at any age, be it work or caring. But it still leaves a lot of folk that could choose to self isolate to protect themselves and everyone else

I think that each person has to decide for themselves how vulnerable they are, how they are going to limit their chances of catching it when they do go out, and how they are going to limit their interactions with other people etc.

I go out once a week by car. I keep all my errands for one day. I have a mask from Etsy that has an elastic toggle to tighten it up and when not in use hangs round my neck. I have hand sanitizer by the front door, in my car and attached to my hand bag. Every time I leave and enter the car I use it, every shop door I go though I use it. If I fill up at the petrol pump I put on white cotton gloves that I keep in the car and then take them off, sanitize my hands and pay in the shop.

I could probably go out once a month but I think I would become agoraphobic and also the car battery might run down.

I think we all have to look at the regulations for our area, follow them and make our own decisions how to live a life that maintains our mental health.

Also PS I am glad I have a sat nave in the car. I have marked in my address book every location for each shop I use because otherwise doing them all on one day and not regularly visiting town any more, I do not know the shortest way between each of them

I am in my 70sand my husband just over 80. We have already lost 6 months of our lives this year. Is anyone expecting over 60s to spend the rest of their lives virtually imprisoned? My husband and I go out but we are very careful. All the restaurants and cafes we go to are local and are sticking carefully to the rules. We would not be organising parties for 100 people as 3 university students did round here. Two of the organisers had been tested positive for COVID and went on to infect many others. I’m sorry but we have no idea how many years we have left in normal circumstances and unless the Government say no going out we will continue to do so whilst taking care

I am staying in as much as I can but we have to get food, prescriotions etc. We noticed during lockdown that with the exceotion kf our son who is disabked, has learning disabilities and needs round the clock care (from us) everyone we know is our age or older, so who would do our shopping and errands???

Brilliant idea, that would mean that most of parliament would be locked up! Let's just apply it to them, then maybe, just maybe there will not be so much depression in this country. .

I feel less anxious by staying in. I am getting really good at ordering food and other essentials on line.
My husband does the in-between bits of shopping.
We feel lucky to have a comfortable place to live with a decent garden. We live reasonably simply. I have been going to have my haircut once a month and my toe-nails attended to, but I have decided to stay at home now as much as is physically possible,

No, it's simply not practical to lump all over 60s together, especially as the state retirement age is now 66, so many will need to earn an income. Only over 60s ( or indeed anyone younger) who need to shield for existing health condition should be asked to stay indoors, and with compensation for lost income if not able to work from home. There is no entitlement to universal credit if you have saving over 16k, but many of us have still mortgages or rent to pay and our savings are for retirement.

When you say stay in, do you mean it literally, or would we be able to go out for fresh air, shops etc, like before. I think it’s about individual people knowing what is best for them. Many older people are fitter and have less health problems than younger ones. I would say...if you know you’re more at risk, then of course limit what you do, whatever age. The government could certainly suggest this, not sure it should be law though.

It would be essential to bring payment of state pension forward to age 60.

I agree!!!
Many people over 60 are physically and mentally younger than people 10/20 years younger than them!
We are not a number! We are individuals and should be treated as such!
Many over 60s need other people in their lives just to survive!
Also exercise to keep well!
People can’t be singled out and locked away, they should be given the facts and the freedom to choose, or more harm than good will be done.

Not a chance I'm 65 healthy, love walking, if I had to stay indoors I think my mental health would suffer.

No.

Definitely no. As others have posted, it depends on people's health and it does appear to be those in the 18 to 24 age range who are spreading the virus.

No. I agree with all those who have also felt this to be unacceptable, unnecessary, unworkable. It is up to each person regardless of their age, to assess what reduction in their activities and going out, will fit their needs. My husband and I are fast approaching mid 60's. He is terrified that going out will bring the virus into the house and resulting death. Neither of us has underlying health issues. On the other hand, I am climbing the walls in trying to respect his fears. I am feeling more and more claustrophic in being indoors, piling on weight, feel my already low fitness level has become non existent, and I believe staying isolated results in the immune system becoming less efficient - so that's self defeating, isn't it? My only time out of these 4 walls is the thoroughly unpleasant supermarket chore, or escaping to our caravan and the freedom of forest walks from there. However, the infection rate is now climbing fast here in Bristol, especially since the universities started the Autumn term so I foresee our freedom here being reduced further because of the selfish and irresponsible minority, who sadly seem to be the younger age groups. Now I read in the local news that the school at the bottom of the road has been closed with immediate effect and all the children told to stay home and self isolate. I'm willing to bet that won't happen and they'll be out and about in the shops and locality.

Rather than impose shielding on the older generation again (most over 60s have the sense to abide by lesser lockdown rules), it would be better, surely, to enforce the lockdown rules on those who flout them.