Over 70s

If the government goes for a points system, I believe the idea will be for the most vulnerable to submit to a more severe lockdown than the more fit 70 year old. Hence a person of, say, 85, and/or with underlying health problems will have severe restrictions for maybe a year or more, but a fit 70 year old will have more freedom.
However, the 85 year old may not be bothered about clinging on to life - they may be in pain, need the help of a carer to get dressed etc, sit at home and do nothing all day, the high point in their life is the visits, perhaps once a week, from a friend or family member. Take that away, they may go into a complete mental decline and have no reason to stay alive. Remember, the lockdown is to prevent them from dying, not to prevent them infecting others. Preserve life even though staying alive has no purpose and even if it leaves a person depressed and in constant pain and never able to see a loved one, or let people choose to be put at risk and if they become ill from anything, give palliative care to let them die peacefully.
Many older people even if fairly fit, will emerge from a longer lockdown less fit, less mentally agile, perhaps even with hastened dementia through lack of stimulation. As a person living alone with no pets, I have already noticed a decline in my mental alertness and mood, even though I still work (part time) from home, and sometimes my feet are too swollen to get shoes on. I may not die of COVID 19 but I could die of thrombosis.
If the purpose of the lockdown is to preserve the life of the elderly, we need to ask if, for them, the resulting quality of life is going to be worth preserving, and give them the choice as to whether they continue to take precautions or risk dying and be assisted to have a peaceful end. I was already finding it a struggle to visit loved ones who live 4-5 hours away and are not well enough to visit me, I only have one family member, not the nearest and dearest, near to me (but still a car ride away). I work because I was saving up for one last holiday away but was already wondering if I will be fit enough to enjoy anything more than to stay at the nearest bit of coast about 2 hours train ride away. If I am to be isolated for what could be the last year of my meaningful life, only to emerge into a nursing home and use up the little money I would leave behind, that would greatly enhance the life of my children, in paying for care, I would rather they shoot me now!

All I’m saying is, ask me what I want. It’s my life and I want the same chance as a younger person, to live it while I still can. I’m not asking anyone to use anything other than some morphine or equivalent, if I should catch the virus, which I would, like others, of course take measures such as wearing a mask and distancing, to avoid.

Starbird. A very good post.

I'm almost 76 and my wife 64 but she is one of the 1.5 million at acute risk. This means that it is down to me to do the shopping which I do once a week. I take precautions by using masks and social distancing. My exercise is a 5 mile cycle on most days avoiding others if possible. We have no others to do shopping for us and I'm fit enough to help others if asked. So far so good.

@Starbird that’s a really good post. My neighbour was saying something similar yesterday as we talked across the gardens.

According to the scientists...a second wave is definitely expected...one reason why the nightingale hospitals have been built.
Lockdown is going to be loosened to flatten the curve, but might be tightened again later.
This is going to be long term for sure.
If people start being selfish and thinking only of their own needs then it will only prolong this for other people.
And I agree with Eglantine21. Not being able to see your grandchildren is not the same as bereavement even though it might feel like it for some people.
How can that be a proper comparison. You can talk to your grandchildren on the phone and send them messages.
My DIL sends me pictures via WhatsApp.
There are many ways around this...although I know it is not the same.

A very good post Starbird

Thank you Starbird the other side of the coin.

Well said Starbird.

I agree, a good post Starbird

I am seventy-seven and my wife is seventy-four and we have both been working from home for our business. Our three daughters and their families all live within a mile or two of us and therefore have been rotating getting all our shopping. So for us isolating has not been at all bad, as they stand well back in the garden when delivering the groceries and we can have a good chat from the open door, lovely

As for the future, I believe it will be a very long time before our age group will be allowed into restaurants and pubs etc, but I feel that trips out in the car will soon be possible again.

We are looking forward to just the two of us packing up our egg rolls, a flask of coffee and off down to Exmoor to find one of those lovely quiet spots that are so abundant on the moor for one of our walks and that picnic.

Their is always a bright side to look forward too. ?

Yes, Starbird has put it very well. It's not a simple case of not wanting the lockdown to go for ages equalling being selfish and not caring about others.

And if, as is likely, other pandemics come along in the future, are we going to shut down our country each time? In that case we might as well all give up now as life as we know it will be gone anyway.

That's a brilliant post Starbird. It says everything I feel.

Starbird Remember, the lockdown is to prevent them from dying, not to prevent them infecting others

I realise you’re speaking from the heart, but I have to disagree with you there. The lockdown is to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed with patients needing intensive care all at the same time.
I’m afraid it isn’t simply a matter of personal choice, much as we would like it to be.
If there’s a second wave as a result of lockdown on vulnerable people (and that’s all older people) and ICUs are swamped with patients, and more NHS staff die as a result of contact with patients, younger people would rightly feel they have been sacrificed by a generation perceived to have had it all.

Sorry that should read ‘as a result of lockdown on vulnerable people being eased’

janeainsworth
You are 100% correct. Older people putting themselves first! Clearly they think that they are not part of the problem. How many more children must lose their parents, the children of medics and other key workers, how many are they happy to see as collateral damage so that they can please themselves?

Indeed they are seen as the generation who had it all. And some of them are saying they will behave as if their rights trump the rights of others. I would like my grandchildren to still have two parents at the end of this. I guess it’s easy to say you’ll please yourself if your children aren’t key workers and your grandchildren will have parents at the end of this.

I’m pretty self sufficient and have been reading, drawing and finally clearing papers left by my late husband plus completely clearing out a room which had become a dumping ground. Without this lockdown, I would have carried on escaping the house at every opportunity. But the feeling this is all moving towards something is wearing off and if I, who love my own company am feeling rather strange, I dread to think what others with different temperaments must be going through.
Also now not bothered about my appearance which is not healthy. There has to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

janeainsworth the NHS is not over used now the nightingale hospital has 25 patients in as of yesterday, my friend has been put up in a hotel waiting to do her first shift for nearly three weeks
There are other big hospitals Manchester etc waiting The staffing was a problem but thousands have come out of retirement and the army has not yet been employed for non nursing hospital jobs PPE is still a problem worldwide but we were dreadfully slow off the mark there
N, old people aren’t being selfish they are wanting to live with the limited years they have left
Starbird you said it for me If I have 10 years left I don’t want to spent half of them in isolation I ll take my chances, within reason, how are we putting others in danger if we don’t have symptoms The young will be out and about if there’s any spreading to be done they ll be doing it not us older folks
I have followed the rules and would do so for another month or so but a year no not me I m afraid
I ll be the one in danger not you as you ll still be in your house

how are we putting others in danger if we don’t have symptoms
Bluebelle you can transmit the disease in the few days between contracting it yourself, and the point at which you become symptomatic.
If you develop symptoms, you are much more likely to require hospitalisation than a younger person. You are then putting the staff who have to care for you in danger.

I think it's just a touch hypocritical to stand outside your door on a Thursday clapping and cheering for NHS staff if you're then going to compromise their safety by not complying with the guidance.

I’ll be the one in danger not you as you’ll still be in your house

Janeainsworth is right. I hope none of you who are saying you’ll go out and won’t stay locked down, I hope none of you will have the hypocrisy to stand clapping on Thursday nights.
Last weekend my son in law, a GP, visited nine care homes. Some of the patients had Covid19. He is putting himself at risk, and his three small children at risk of possibly, heaven forbid, of losing their Daddy. Why would you who are safe risk going out and contacting Covid19 and spreading it. What doesn’t anyone understand about the fact that if you don’t have symptoms you could be a symptomatic or be incubating the disease. In either case you’ll be highly infective to others. Don’t think of yourselves, think of the children who may end up without a parent because of your selfishness.

Maddy thinking of you. I hope your family all stay safe

I cannot believe how anyone can passively accept restrictions on the over 70s using words like will be allowed out!
Are we in a communist state
Will we be compelled to paint a mark on our heads?
Most people over 70 are aware of the risks and are conscious of not putting a burden on care
But I for one would resent and abhor orders to lock away for 12 months
And before the usual suspects on here tell me how selfish I am for not considering others, that is NOT what I am saying

I've asked this before how can a person who's been self isolating since even before all this started be infected? We haven't been shopping or near anybody so is the virus floating in the air we breath?

janeainsworth
Thank you so much.

BlueSky It could be on shopping or prescriptions/medicines or post - any items that come into your house.

Because of the medication DH is on we’re shielding. DH also gets very depressed in the dark of late autumn and winter. If we have to continue shielding - ie not going out past the front gate - ... Well, we simply can’t do it.

We’ll manage maybe another couple of months but after that we will go out. We’ll avoid people, won’t go into shops or go to shows or anywhere where there’s crowds. But we will go out.