Plans for over 70's

The Scottish Government must recognise that the over 70's is not one homogeneous group.

Why the contribution is important

Planning for 70's plus needs to consider varying strategies rather than a blanket statement. Please bear this in mind!

by tills on May 06, 2020 at 12:28PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.6
Based on: 8 votes

Comments

  • Posted by grussell May 06, 2020 at 15:21

    Indeed. I am over 70 and walk, cycle and run in my hour's exercise. I rather think I am less at risk than a 69 year old who has a high BMI and smokes. The analyses of death rates that I have seen have been simple single factor ones such as by age rather than a more complex but useful analysis that takes in more than one explanatory variable, for example a factorial analysis that considers both age and presence of underlying conditions.
  • Posted by winifred May 06, 2020 at 16:54

    Agreed. I am over 70, healthy and active. I have a wide circle of friends and many interests; however I live alone and have no family. I know of many other people in the same position. The last few weeks have been immensely frustrating as we are isolated as being 'elderly and vulnerable' but feel we are neither. Many of us have professional qualifications and skills we could offer to society but we are unable to do so. Others, myself included, are extremely worried for our future mental health if the current lockdown continues. Personally I am far less frightened of catching, or indeed dying, from the virus than I am of ending up as somebody who is indeed 'elderly and vulnerable' through inactivity and isolation. I feel it is discriminatory to put all over 70s in the same category without considering factors such as general health, lifestyle and gender. In my case, simply being able to meet friends in the park, or invite a small group to my home for dinner or a coffee, would make a tremendous difference.
  • Posted by WSR May 06, 2020 at 20:00

    Agreed. Many over 70s are fit and well with no underlying health risks. Let over 70s decide for themselves whether the are vulnerable or not.
  • Posted by cfm1 May 07, 2020 at 18:10

    I'm celebrating my 73rd birthday today and feeling as fit as ever in my life. I fully accept that the statistics suggest that the elderly have a greater clinical risk from Covid-19 but we also have common sense and life experience to allow us to judge risk. Bear in mind that we lived through a period when poliomyelitis was rife and there was no vaccine. Catching measles, mumps and rubella was regarded as an inevitable part of childhood. I don't wish to be patronised - if I judge that it is safe to drive somewhere to go for a hillwalk I should be able to do so.
  • Posted by activeandvibrant May 10, 2020 at 13:05

    Agree totally. I have posted a long response re this in another area - I wish they would group/link responses to avoid repetition! We are extremely active participating in a huge range of activities as well as travelling volunteering etc. and are sick of being spoken of as if we are pathetic wimps just waiting to die! No way we will remain incarcerated - we will make our own choices as autonomous humans just as all other adults will and this needs to be respected. Stop discriminating on grounds of age - it has no place in a democracy that claims to support equity and fairness. Are we still living in one?
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