Healthy Over 70s

Healthy over 70s should not be confined longer than anyone else solely on the basis of age. The British Medical Association has stated that "Any proposal to impose stricter social distancing for those at higher risk..based solely on age would be both unethical and illegal."(3rd May 2020).

I am a healthy 70 year old and I have been practicing strict social distancing, apart from daily exercise. When the lockdown eases, I would like to be able to help my daughter with her 2 young children, aged 3 years and 7 months, but apart from this I would happily continue strict isolation. Families need to be able to support each other. My daughter has no other family members living nearby and with nurseries closed, I could provude extra help.

Why the contribution is important

Healthy 70 year olds with no underlying health conditions should be allowed to support their families. This would be provide mutual benefits and improve well being.

by Gorham on May 10, 2020 at 12:36PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Scotswede May 10, 2020 at 12:46

    Agree.

    Arbitrary age cut offs and splitting people into 'healthy' and 'vulnerable' is dangerous.

    A reminder that healthy people can still have very adverse outcomes from Covid 19 (including longterm health implications) and that vulnerable people with health conditions may have their health deteriorate prematurely or permanently as a result of long term excessive restrictions.

  • Posted by AJClubb May 10, 2020 at 12:57

    The mental effect of shutdown should not be underestimated

  • Posted by Marilyn May 10, 2020 at 12:58

    Ageed

  • Posted by GSS May 10, 2020 at 13:17

    Agreed and I have also posted something similar. And if the Government wants to get the country moving over 70s are needed to allow families to go back to work

  • Posted by maybuds20 May 10, 2020 at 14:14

    Arbitrary age cut offs are a problem. There does seem to be an increased risk for older people but is that not tied in with the fact that older people because they’ve lived longer tend to have more underlying health problems ...they’ve had time for these to develop. It would be good if healthy over 70s were allowed to meet up with family and other healthy friends - from a social isolation perspective and also I. Terms of helping younger family members with child care etc

  • Posted by Kildaman May 10, 2020 at 15:24

    I fully agree with the stated sentiments. My wife and I are violently healthy over 70s and are fortunate to live in the Highlands. We have a garden and an allotment which give us the opportunity for all the exercise we require. We both find it somewhat disrespectful of the Scottish Government to define us as "vulnerable" (we wouldn't mind venerable!) which smacks of a one size fits all approach. Please credit us with some sense. We are both risk aware not risk averse!!

  • Posted by wisteria May 10, 2020 at 16:48

    I don’t think the over 70’s have ever been categorised as ‘vulnerable’. Isn’t the message to ‘ over 70’s and vulnerable’?
    Also none of these suggested restrictions are law. One isolates or not as one feels appropriate.

  • Posted by sheenaduboust May 11, 2020 at 13:21

    Just to support the other suggestions. Vulnerability should not be assessed by age alone. It requires other factors e.g underlying health conditions and the other known risk factors for Covid proving to be more serious.
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