Why?

[jiminyC_fan]

I wish there were some statistics stating that people over 70 were not taking it serious. I have an extremely hard time believing it. I know many and they have are all NOT leaving their houses. Nowhere on our news have they even stated it.

 

[design_mom]

It is interesting in seeing the different reactions via generations. NO ONE I know that is my age is taking this lightly. Nearly ALL of our parents are taking it less seriously than we are. It's fascinating and also frustrating as hell! Ha.

My parents are driving me CRAZY. They are "snowbirds" and my sister and I are in Ohio. My dad ticks pretty much *all* the high-risk boxes, and my mom isn't too far behind... but they seem to think things are overhyped.

I really wish they would have come home -- and my sister and I tried to talk them into it almost 2 weeks ago because we could kind of see this developing. My parents are having some work done on the bathroom in their condo and are refusing to come home till the work is done (hopefully by next week). We talked to them about avoiding non-essential errands and they promised they would -- then they called me NOT TWO HOURS LATER from Home Depot asking my opinion on mirrors for the bathroom. Then the next day -- it was the pet store to buy guppies for my dad's fish tank. "But we didn't touch anything and nobody coughed or anything." And they stopped at Bob Evan's for lunch on the way back home.

I *thought* we had finally gotten through to them (as they're seeing the closings happening here at home in Ohio) -- then last night, my mom let it slip that the neighbors (all also elderly) had been over to see the progress on the bathroom. WHAT?!?! "Well, I didn't *invite* them. They knocked on the door and asked to see it. I couldn't be rude." Um... yes, you should!

My mother finally said "I don't want to talk about it!!!!" and shut us down. But... ugh...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wish there were some statistics stating that people over 70 were not taking it serious. I have an extremely hard time believing it. I know many and they have are all NOT leaving their houses. Nowhere on our news have they even stated it.

I don't know about over 70, I imagine it's 60+ as well given some of people's ages that comment and even 50+

I think the issue is that's not getting the attention in the news. The news is focusing on bars, restaurants and beaches rightfully so in certain cases and coming down on the youth but ignoring that the grocery and other places are a main spot for distancing issues. What is making the news on that respect is stores creating special hours for the ones that are considered high risk. They just don't frame it in a way as to say "those high risk people are still out and about".

Last weekend my father-in-law and his wife were getting together with one of my sister-in-laws and her boyfriend (who had been to Chicago and back multiple times already) to play games. We already had plans to stay in but I really didn't want to go over there especially as sister-in-law's boyfriend had just come back from Chicago the day before. Father-in-law's wife who is upper 50s/low 60s (I don't know her exact age but she's around that) said "oh you guys worried about the coronavirus is that why you won't come over"..and no she didn't say it in a concerning way it was in a "you really don't believe it's that big of a deal do you" way.

 

[wgeo]

I wish there were some statistics stating that people over 70 were not taking it serious. I have an extremely hard time believing it. I know many and they have are all NOT leaving their houses. Nowhere on our news have they even stated it.

I only have anecdotal evidence of course, but I live in the land of retirees and it is pretty incredible how many of them are still golfing, playing bridge etc. We canceled church on Sunday and they all understood and then they argued for days about why they couldn't still hold meetings/bible study during the week. 2 different people I knew flew back north to see family this week and intend on flying home soon and carrying on with their lives.

 

[skyblue17]

I wish there were some statistics stating that people over 70 were not taking it serious. I have an extremely hard time believing it. I know many and they have are all NOT leaving their houses. Nowhere on our news have they even stated it.

It may be confirmation bias, but I don't think a stat is needed when literally everyone I've spoken to can confirm their parents are not taking it as seriously as we think they should be.

 

[Disneylover99]

I wish there were some statistics stating that people over 70 were not taking it serious. I have an extremely hard time believing it. I know many and they have are all NOT leaving their houses. Nowhere on our news have they even stated it.

My dad turns 83 tomorrow. He wanted to go out for dinner. I feel bad, but thankfully there are really no restaurants opened around him to go to. The threat of the virus is not keeping him in as it should.

 

[AlohaNow]

Can confirm - my 70s parents are not taking it seriously so far.

 

[kiddo76]

Can confirm - my 70s parents are not taking it seriously so far.

Neither are my inlaws.

 

[Sabeking]

Our community shut down the senior center 2 weeks ago. All restaurants are take out, drive through only. Every event and most stores have closed. Senior living communities are only letting in family. My 84 year old father has not left the house in a week. My mil, the same. All the seniors I know; especially the crowd at our church have been in lock down for over a week by their own choice.

 

[shelemm]

The simulations show that, if we don't react through social distancing, nobody is spared. It will ramp up and spread through the entire population. felling more and more people at a dizzying speed. That will blow those numbers you cited out of the water. There is nothing stopping the spread. Social distancing is really the only significant tool we have. Even then, it has to take hold quite thoroughly so that people can receive proper treatment. If practiced widely, then some people will never get it, and those that do can receive possibly life-saving treatment.

 

[Farro]

My 81 year old parents aren't thrilled, but they are taking it seriously. My dad now goes to the drive-thru or does curb-side pick up. Apparently he is now "organizing" in the house and driving my mom nuts.

He won't even let us come over!!!

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

My FIL is 89 and he was still going to the Y. Uncle in his 80s is routinely running errands - errands I have offered to do. Uncle (80s) and Aunt (70s) are taking dog to vet tomorrow for routine care. ALL live in a city with Community Spread.

Yet the stores are inundated with requests to open early for the elderly to have advance shopping options...
As soon as one store announced the mother of friends in their 30s offered the services of the father (70s) to run errands during the special elderly only time.

 

[LSUmiss]

Neither are my inlaws.

I wonder if it’s b/c that generation has seen they’re share of end of the world type scenarios that ended up not as bad as predicted so they’re more skeptical? Part of what made Hurricane Katrina so devastating for this area is that ppl had just evacuated for that big one (ivan) the year before & it went somewhere else. So ppl were skeptical to trust the experts the next time & stayed.

 

[Hikergirl]

I know 2 people over 70 who aren't taking it seriously and 2 that are. I guess they just even each other out.

 

[mnrose]

My MIL is taking it seriously. She's staying home. And, is reconsidering her flight to come back up north. She's in her AZ condo, and can stay there indefinitely. She's also the person saying "If I do get it, I'll just stay home. I'm old, and don't want to take a bed from a young person." She's an interesting person. She really means it too. Not kidding at all. She's 84 and otherwise in excellent health.

 

[LSUmiss]

The simulations show that, if we don't react through social distancing, nobody is spared. It will ramp up and spread through the entire population. felling more and more people at a dizzying speed. That will blow those numbers you cited out of the water. There is nothing stopping the spread. Social distancing is really the only significant tool we have. Even then, it has to take hold quite thoroughly so that people can receive proper treatment. If practiced widely, then some people will never get it, and those that do can receive possibly life-saving treatment.

But do we not think that there are some ppl who will be immune? We have an explosion of cases here. I keep thinking how DH & I spent 2 weeks at Mardi Gras then went to Disney for a week. We were not particularly diligent about hand-washing b/c we have a 22 mon old & he touches everything & then his face & ours etc. My aunt & cousin went on a Disney Cruise & there ended up being a positive person on board. All of us are well past the 14 day incubation period now & everyone is fine. But we all try to eat healthy & get enough rest. I know that I am the most vulnerable for getting sick when I am run down. I can’t imagine that we haven’t been exposed. Maybe we are just lucky or it’s coming for us soon? Idk.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wonder if it’s b/c that generation has seen they’re share of end of the world type scenarios that ended up not as bad as predicted so they’re more skeptical? Part of what made Hurricane Katrina so devastating for this area is that ppl had just evacuated for that big one (ivan) the year before & it went somewhere else. So ppl were skeptical to trust the experts the next time & stayed.

If my grandma were alive I'm pretty sure she would just take it as a stubborness thing. She was mid-80s when she passed away this past September and she'd be upset if she couldn't go to the casinos once a week (which are now closed) or dropped off at the grocery store if the place she lived at was concerned about exposures, etc.

She didn't listen to anyone about her smoking or her drinking, she didn't listen to anyone about making sure she got up and moved throughout the day or various other things. She wasn't going to let anyone tell her anything to do.

I mean it's possible she experienced stuff but in all honesty I think she was just a stubborn person

**I shoud mention I loved my grandmother very much but we all recognized her flaws (and we all have our own in my family as well).

 

[RamblingMad]

Can confirm - my 70s parents are not taking it seriously so far.

Mine aren't either.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

How many younger people do you know that aren't taking it seriously?

 

[Farro]

If my grandma were alive I'm pretty sure she would just take it as a stubborness thing. She was mid-80s when she passed away this past September and she'd be upset if she couldn't go to the casinos once a week (which are now closed) or dropped off at the grocery store if the place she lived at was concerned about exposures, etc.

She didn't listen to anyone about her smoking or her drinking, she didn't listen to anyone about making sure she got up and moved throughout the day or various other things. She wasn't going to let anyone tell her anything to do.

I mean it's possible she experienced stuff but in all honesty I think she was just a stubborn person

**I shoud mention I loved my grandmother very much but we all recognized her flaws (and we all have our own in my family as well).

Oh Grandma. ❤