Healthy Over 70s

Is it possible for over 70s who are not in the shielded/vulnerable groups to be included in the easing of lockdown regulations, rather than lumping them in with the less healthy over 70s group.

Why the contribution is important

Benefit of mental health and physical fitness.

by Bradl on May 05, 2020 at 01:13PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.4
Based on: 17 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Jane May 05, 2020 at 17:42

    This should be explored but would require adherence to the guidance on hygiene and distance. Some people are fit and would self assess as able to do more - albeit the scientists
    remind us that age in itself is a risk factor with an upward curve even where no underlying condition.

  • Posted by cwarlow May 05, 2020 at 17:46

    Yes, but this needs to be nuanced. It should be possible for epidemiologists to construct an easy-to-use on-line tool so that us over 70s, and those under 70, can estimate our own individual risk of various outcomes like CV-19 death, CV infection, admission to hospital with CV etc etc based on sex, post code, obesity and race all of which affect outcome as well as merely age. With our own estimated risk we, or others (government, family etc), could then decide whether to venture out or not. This would be similar to the tools already available to estimate our risk of heart attacks and strokes.

  • Posted by Pinkucaro May 06, 2020 at 12:04

    Most over 70s are sensible and aren’t going to expose themselves to risks. They know themselves how healthy they are and how likely they are to experience a severe form of the disease. Most people will naturally limit contact with others so trust over 70s to decide if they are healthy or not and if they should continue to shield or should be included with the easing of lockdown restrictions

  • Posted by MarionBoyle May 06, 2020 at 14:11

    As a healthy 72 year old I am appalled by the suggestion that I should be permanently incarcerated just for being over 70 - even mass murderers have some hope of being released some day. My first reaction on hearing this suggestion in a radio interview was "I might as well just top myself - such a life wouldn't be worth living." Then I thought "No, getting rid of some oldies would suit the politicians fine - I'll hang on and annoy them by being a crabbit old curmudgeon" And don't mention vaccines - they'll take years to develop, if they ever do.

  • Posted by JimMackechnie May 06, 2020 at 17:11


    In Section 4B of the Scottish Government’s document, it says : “Special consideration will also be given to those who are not shielding but are at heightened risk, for instance people over 70, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions.” What sort of ‘special consideration’ is not mentioned, but there have been hints ,comments and speculation from informed sources that this might include severer restrictions for all those over 70s than the measures imposed upon those below that age threshold.

    Those over 70 who do not have underlying medical conditions should not be treated differently from the under 70s. To do so would be ageist and discriminatory. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, British Medical Association Council Chair, has made it abundantly clear. He said "Any proposal to impose stricter social distancing for those at higher risk – essentially quarantining – based solely on age would be both unethical and illegal," Absolutely correct. This should be one of the primary principles that guides the Scottish Government's consideration of future provisions to combat the virus. It is quite preposterous to suggest that once one turns 70 there is a medical change that requires draconian self-isolation provisions to be immediately imposed. A decent society, even in an emergency, does not discriminate on the basis of age.

    There should be robust appreciation of the misery that isolation is inflicting, and would, if expanded, inflict, on our senior citizens. Many of our over 70s were already experiencing loneliness prior to the appearance of the virus. To unnecessarily add to this, by imposing an arbitrary age barrier would be unforgivable. Additionally it is also well known that if very fit people in the 70+ age range are prevented from both physical and social activity and contact it can lead to serious long-term mental and health problems.
     
    The Scottish Government should be heeding the comment from the National Pensioners Federation “We believe older people are better placed to know their own health needs and will take decisions based on their personal situation.”

  • Posted by AuntieKaty May 07, 2020 at 20:06

    It is discriminatory to assume all over-70s are in need of being told to isolate. Many in this age group are fit and healthy, though now losing muscle mass through being restricted in activities. Moreover, as many do not work in paid employment they appreciate social contract. If they are isolated for much longer you will have a different sort of problem - deterioration of mental health.

  • Posted by erdabrown May 08, 2020 at 15:20

    It's likely that if you are over 70 and asking to get more that your health is good and you want to keep it that way. . Many younger, unfit, smoking overweight people are at far higher risk of dying from Covid. It is totally discriminating to use over 70 as a cut off.

  • Posted by WBRnotes May 08, 2020 at 21:09

    Statistics seem to show that in general, the older one gets the more likely one is to be badly affected by or to die from COVID-19. Sadly, it seems that the immune system weakens with age regardless of how fit one is.

    The document mentioned below from Warwick University looks at a rolling age related release from lockdown, paying attention to WHO recommendations and statistics which is something that the UK governments and others have not so far done with regards to those 60-69 most likely because it's inconvenient to do so given that 60-66 year olds are now very much in the workplace. It's particularly because they are in the workplace that they need protected.

    This document is well worth reading: Age, Death Risk, and the Design of an Exit Strategy: A Guide for Policymakers and for Citizens Who Want to Stay Alive

  • Posted by activeandvibrant May 10, 2020 at 13:37

    Absolutely appalled that incarceration of those over 70 is even being discussed!
    We are fit healthy vibrant people living a full healthy happy fulfilling life and have no intention of giving that up to vegetate at home! Even the thought of that makes my blood run cold. My mental health is already deteriorating with current restrictions - only walking shopping outside home- no way I would survive without an actual life. Anyone who thinks this is a good idea needs to know that they are condemning people to quite literally a living nightmare of a death. Why is discrimination through age STILL acceptable? If it was suggested that obese people or people in BMAE communities for example were To be incarcerated there would be a huge outcry - senior citizens need to make their voices be heard loud and clear.
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