Elderly parents won't stop making unnecessary trips to the supermarket!!!

Thrugelmir

Poster_586329 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Poster_586329 said:

I think the ultimatum's worked because my Mum's just said they'll stay out of supermarkets.  Hopefully they'll stick to it!

The two other ideas I'd had were, firstly, to get my brother on board.   They would respect the message a lot more if it was coming from him.

Secondly, that I need to do more to take control of the food shopping.  Order from lots of different sites, because they might not fully realize the variety of what you can get out there.   They have never had the habit of online food shopping.

And, finally, to get hold of some masks, so that we do have some protection in the house in case one of us gets it.   

Please don’t, leave the masks for healthcare workers who really need them.  You are highly unlikely to get ill if you’re all staying in now, and if you do you can isolate within the house and follow strict hygiene measures, no mask needed.

Though I was going to order from AliExpress, the site known as "the Chinese eBay", and I doubt that the NHS are competing for the same masks.

There are only so many manufacturers globally. There'll always be someone looking to exploit a profitable opportunity. However they came by the stock. 

kazwookie

Get your mother busy, with reorganising the kitchen store cupboards, sounds like she needs to be busy.

[Deleted User]

Thrugelmir said:

Poster_586329 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Poster_586329 said:

I think the ultimatum's worked because my Mum's just said they'll stay out of supermarkets.  Hopefully they'll stick to it!

The two other ideas I'd had were, firstly, to get my brother on board.   They would respect the message a lot more if it was coming from him.

Secondly, that I need to do more to take control of the food shopping.  Order from lots of different sites, because they might not fully realize the variety of what you can get out there.   They have never had the habit of online food shopping.

And, finally, to get hold of some masks, so that we do have some protection in the house in case one of us gets it.   

Please don’t, leave the masks for healthcare workers who really need them.  You are highly unlikely to get ill if you’re all staying in now, and if you do you can isolate within the house and follow strict hygiene measures, no mask needed.

Though I was going to order from AliExpress, the site known as "the Chinese eBay", and I doubt that the NHS are competing for the same masks.

There are only so many manufacturers globally. There'll always be someone looking to exploit a profitable opportunity. However they came by the stock. 

Good point!

The BMJ are now encouraging the public to wear masks inside supermarkets.  But they're saying home-made masks.

jackieblack

They’re adults and it’s their home. 
If you don’t like it you have two choices - stay and accept their choices or leave.
You are not entitled to dictate to them how live their lives.

onwards&upwards

It sounds like your level of anxiety might mean you are better in your own home where you can have more control.

Your parents don’t need you (and sorry to be brutal but you’re probably getting right on their nerves!) and you don’t need them.  They’re stressing you out, you’re nagging them, is anybody actually benefiting from you being there?

Martin_the_Unjust

jackieblack said:

They’re adults and it’s their home. 
If you don’t like it you have two choices - stay and accept their choices or leave.
You are not entitled to dictate to them how live their lives.

Exactly! 

If if one of my grown up children started to tell me what I could and couldn't do they would get a rather abrupt response.

PixelPound

You can't force your parents, though if you are concerned you could isolate yourself within the house.
On the "save the masks for NHS" there is much debate on the validity of it. There is a large manufacturing base, the supply routes for NHS will be different to consumers and there isn't a short supply - it is more the logistics of getting that. Of course there is the question of the quality and effectiveness of any got on aliexpress. It also depends on what mask and why you are wearing them - the surgical mask type are as effective as say a scarf in that they won't stop you catching the virus but it is a droplet barrier eg if you cough. Another reason they don't recommend is because of the consumer supply people may get paper masks and reuse them - they become ineffective after a few hours in a single use and can be harbours of germs etc if consistently reused.

You could watch documentaries as a group, like the BBC one on Italy. Things like that may make it sink home, but then again they may not be willing to watch or still be under the idea it wouldn't happen to them.

[Deleted User]

There is one situation in which it would be useful for me to be here.  

I've just been reading the BMJ leaflet aimed at the general public, which says what to do if you're looking after someone at home. https://bestpractice.bmj.com/patient-leaflets/en-gb/pdf/3000166/Coronavirus.pdf

So, thinking catastrophically (but not unrealistically) ahead, if either my mum or my dad get infected, then I could be the one that takes them food and asks them what they need.  And the other one of them should not go in the bedroom. That will reduce the risk of them both getting it. 

But as a couple that have been married most of their lives, maybe they'd both want to look after each other.

Also, I don't think it's useful for me to spend the next year or more back here, waiting to be useful in case they do catch it, while chiding them for doing things that might put them at risk of it happening!

[Deleted User]

nic_c said:

You can't force your parents, though if you are concerned you could isolate yourself within the house.
On the "save the masks for NHS" there is much debate on the validity of it. There is a large manufacturing base, the supply routes for NHS will be different to consumers and there isn't a short supply - it is more the logistics of getting that. Of course there is the question of the quality and effectiveness of any got on aliexpress. It also depends on what mask and why you are wearing them - the surgical mask type are as effective as say a scarf in that they won't stop you catching the virus but it is a droplet barrier eg if you cough. Another reason they don't recommend is because of the consumer supply people may get paper masks and reuse them - they become ineffective after a few hours in a single use and can be harbours of germs etc if consistently reused.

You could watch documentaries as a group, like the BBC one on Italy. Things like that may make it sink home, but then again they may not be willing to watch or still be under the idea it wouldn't happen to them.

Thanks for this reply!    They were very shocked and scared by the videos coming out of Italy a month ago.  But, you know, that was a month ago.  And like a lot of people they've started to get cocky, and push against the restrictions a bit.

holidaycheat_66

I see the op was going to use AliExpress!    I'm never ordering ANYTHING from China again! Nooooo!  Never!