Isolating over 70s for 4 months

The wartime spirit : during the war we hated Hitler, Goebbels, and Goering. Unfortunately the coronavirus is not a person .

True, there is a need to care for old people who cannot go out.
many old people are not good at being all by themselves.

I might get in touch with the minister of the church that hosts U3A here ,and ask if there is anything organised for the lonely elderly, such as post cards. I could not manage phone calls as |I am deaf and I fear I'd have to try to talk to people I cannot understand.

Scribbles It is absolutely not illogical to feel that the world is horrible at present, the period after the loss of someone dear to you always is. When that loss happens at a time like at present that is awful.

My deepest condolences

Scribbles so sorry to read of your situation. It probably won’t be as bad as you fear. I’m sure if you contact your local Age Uk or similar they could offer you some good advice. Good luck. Keep coming on here for a chat x

Re what I wrote above - I've just had the first cancellation from friends who were to come to OH's funeral. They are in the at risk category and the virus is now in their village so they're going into purdah. I DO understand but it hurts that my beloved man might be denied a proper farewell because this witless government - along with many others - didn't take steps to impose a travel ban when the virus first reared its head.

I'm hurting and that may make me illogical but the world feels like a sh*tty place this morning.

We have another thread bemoaning the fact that the government isn't doing enough. This thread seems to think they're going too far. Wouldn't like to be the government - they just can't win.

I think some of these posts are getting increasingly alarmist. Talk of not seeing another soul for 4 months and slowly going insane. I don’t believe (sincerely hope) it will come to that. I’m watching the various news outlets continually and they’re rolling out ‘experts’ one after the other. I don’t think it’s helpful. The only thing that is really worrying me is the lack of ventilators. I know from what I heard on tv a few weeks ago we don’t have anywhere near the amount people believe we have.

Missfoodlove has made a good point.
Whatever happened to the wartime spirit?
This crisis has made me think about the war and increased my admiration for how everyone coped - for years, not months. We must develop some inner strength.

@Summerlove
Absolutely agree. Whatever has brought the NHS to this point is history. This is the NOW. My husband and I are over 70. We took this coronavirus news seriously when the news first broke.

I'm a planner. Did I buy extra food and loo rolls each week since December...yes I did. My son has IBD and I have IBS and we use a lot of loo roll anyway.

My husband has bone marrow cancer and I've recently been diagnosed with Polycythaemia which is a type of bone marrow cancer producing too many red blood cells. I'm so fatigued. My husband looks so healthy it's me that looks haggard. lol.

My son has acute anxiety disorder and at the age of 27 has never worked and lives with us.

We have always been in a self isolating mode since my husband was diagnosed with Myeloma in 2015. A normal cold has always been his potential pneumonia/sepsis.....some of our family have not been receptive to this protective information.... maybe now they will understand.

M0nica I agree with you. If people stop panicking, are rational, things will be ok. Yes, a lot of people will get CV, but they will also get 'flu, colds, bacterial pneumonia, have car crashes, etc.

Scribbles, I was so sorry to read your very sad post and deeply sympathise with your loss. I can't say anything that can alleviate your pain an can only offer you hugs and

Joan Bakewell was on tv the other night in self isolation as her doctor advised it. She said she was doing it as if she got Ill she would be using valuable resources.
This looks as if we are in for the long haul. I am almost 79 and my dh is 80. We are prepared to forego trips to London involving tubes and trains. With difficulty I ordered grocery online for the end of next week. Thought it sensible to reduce visits to shops and travelling on buses as much as possible but total restriction or as dh is describing it,being nailed to the floor is going to do a lot of harm health wise. What they should be doing is to issue us with hand sanitiser etc which I haven’t any chance of buying.

I wouldn't mind but this virus is symptomless until it's too late, so it's no wonder it'll spread like Japanese Knotweed.
By the time it's tailed off there'll be another one to greet us at the end of the year and those who were unfortunate to have suffered this one and got over it mightn't be so lucky next time.

The Government could do a lot more than they do in assisting containment and also the health service more advanced in giving us " up to date " 'flu jabs when the time comes as last years jabs were as good as useless being viruses from the previous year instead of to date--( rolls eyes )

If countries like China and Korea with their masses of millions can contain this virus, why can't we ?? Doesn't this prove that us and Europe are well behind in detection, containment and overall healthcare ?

Abnuyc123, I think you are being alarmist and quite frankly ridiculous.

No situation is black and white as you draw it. What about the health dangers and life-limiting effects of being self excluded and alone for 4 months? We know that older people who are isolated become depressed, suffer from more mental problems, are more likely to develop other physical illnesses and become more dependent on other people. Far from making fewer demands on the NHS, they could end up making more.

On the other hand I am not suggesting we all party with hundreds of others in closed rooms with no ventilation. It is quite possible to reduce one's contacts with the outside world, while nurturing one's health. What and how these are depends from person to person, but looking at my diary, it is already full of cancelled events and my excursions out, my daily walk apart, are limited to only what is necessary and at times when it is judged I will come across as few people as possible.

Yes missfoodlove exactly. Why on earth are people cross about this ? It seems the obvious thing to do. And no I’m sure there will not be police enforcing this - you are encouraged to do this to keep safe, and, crucially, to cut down on infecting others.

If it comes to this why all the fuss?
The PM is trying to keep everyone safe, the economy ticking over and the hospitals in a position where they can cope.
If the most vulnerable section of society is kept away from exposure we have a chance of getting through this.
We are only leaving the house if totally necessary and have been doing so for a week.
I would feel terrible if I had the virus and unwittingly passed it on.

Whatever happened to the wartime spirit? I think we would all be black marketeers refusing to switch lights off in the blackout.

Does anyone know what the advice is on attending routine medical appointments? Mum-in-law is in her 90s, on warfarin and due a blood test on Wednesday. Should she attend?

DH and I are over 70 and in rude good health. We have promised each other that we would let the other die of the virus should we become infected. There are far worse, more protracted, more painful deaths to “look forward” to . The DCs have been told and I’m trying to get a DNR in place, because the patient and family “are in no position to take such decisions”!
It makes me furious to be so infantilised. I’m grown up, a responsible citizen. How dare they?

How will this be enforced? Will there be checkpoints where we have to prove our age? What about those of us who live alone and have no family to shop for them (bearing in mind supermarket home deliveries are already swamped). I am not going out as often as I used to but to be imprisoned in my home for 4 months would probably drive me mad

From infection not protection!

Scribbles unless you have symptoms and are self isolating there is no need to worry about staying at home on your own. You can still go for walks in the fresh air. You can still have friends to visit (but no hugging! Keep a distance.) you can still shop occasionally. It’s just about avoiding mixing with larger numbers of people. I think there’s a lot of confusion and misunderstanding generally. Ice just heard someone explain all this on the radio.
I plan to avoid going to all
my classes, rehearsals, concerts. Plays etc but otherwise will carry on as normal. Pottering about in the village, seeing a few close friends, phoning/Skyping family as they are not local. Seems sensible to protect myself from protection. I can probably go to national trust gardens etc but not sit in restaurants , cafes etc with lots of others or go on tours of the house.

^ this

Risk begins to increase from the age of 50.

You will be at increased regardless of underlying health condition.

From 50 the risk of complication associated with covid19 increases exponentially.

You may survive the virus, but at what cost to the NHS.

It is everyone’s responsibility to assist the NHS is this massive crises facing the staff and infrastructure, both understaffed and lack of appropriate equipment.

To refuse to isolate when every country in the world is calling on its population to do so is both utterly irresponsible and potentially criminal in some countries.

It is time to stop thinking “me” and replacing it with “us”

So many opinions....
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51892402

Right now, I need a human touch and a hug from a friend. I know I'm not the only person in this situation and I don't want to be selfish but the prospect of months in isolation leaves me in despair.

I live alone now since my husband was killed in an accident 8 weeks ago. My only relative in this country is my daughter who lives 150 miles away. Others will understand the anguish and loneliness of being alone with no casual touch of a hand, an arm around the shoulders, all the little day to day contacts. The only thing that has kept me sane during police investigations and endless legal bureaucracy has been seeing friends and neighbours and having a hug.

Next Friday, OH's ashes will be interned in the presence of our friends and there will be lunch in the pub afterwards. As some of those friends are over 70, am i supposed to cancel? Some of them are coming long distances; are we to be forbidden an embrace in greeting and comfort?

I fear for the mental and emotional health of thousands of people if months of isolation are forced upon us - not to mention the decline in physical health when fresh air and a brisk walk are forbidden.

The grief, anxiety and stress are already having an effect on my rationality . I truly fear for my sanity if isolation is imposed. I'd rather take my chances with the virus than end up slitting my wrists in lonely grief.

Oh, and to those who think it couldn't be enforced: the Emergency Powers Act of the 1930s has not been repealed, so far as I'm aware. If the government chooses to invoke that, the military will be authorised to shoot anyone disobeying orders.