COVID-19......What IS "elderly"??? - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,403 members38,738 posts

COVID-19......What IS "elderly"???

Wightbaby profile image
33 Replies

I know it's a big ask from the media...but I wish they would define "elderly" when relating it to COVID-19 fatalities!! It may reassure some of us......

Especially when people posting elsewhere also refer to "pensioners".......I mean, look at the range there!!

Wonder if we are all lumped into together!! I draw a pension (I am 66), my mother in law, also does..she is 92......!!

Get my drift? No nasty comments please.....its just a thought!

Written by
Wightbaby profile image
Wightbaby
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
33 Replies
sotolol profile image
sotolol

I agree we are being herded together. Like we are being culled. I think it’s just the older generation with other symptoms that MAY cause concern. Media love all this hype. I don’t like the word frail either. We are well matured people. That’s what we are and sensible as we have been through worse. Cuppa tea cake smile and carry on. 🙂

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply tosotolol

I agree with you sotalol ...I'm not too keen on the word frail either .

A couple of years ago I came across the words ' moderate frailty 'on my surgery records. I was most indignant especially as I had just finished painting a very large room , done the ironing and prepared the evening meal......I'm afraid that needed a call to the surgery for an explanation (!) Its still on my records . I don't suppose it will be long before I merit the description though. Meanwhile I'm about to get my paint out of the garage for my next project.

sotolol profile image
sotolol in reply toJalia

Good girl I’m

Painting hall stairs and landing soon. After getting in the loft to get things for my granddaughter.

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

You are right. We are having to work out some of this for ourselves. I have also seen this variation.I am inclined to think that a strong 80 year old with few serious underlying health problems is likely to suffer less than a 50 year old with a lot of health problems.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

My understanding, and correct me if I am spreading false information, is anyone over the age of 65 COULD be more vulnerable - simply because of our biology - which tends not to regenerate as well as it did from about 60’ish and certainly doesn’t work as well as when we were 45.

Obviously it’s not a fixed position because everything is relative and we are all different and the older and more conditions you have, then the more vulnerable you could be to the cytokine storm which is an over reaction of your immune system - which causes the lung inflammation - which is what is causing all of the concern.

Take a breath everyone and enjoy the feeling and savour life because it is still good!

I saw an interview of 85-100 year olds last night on the news - none of them were in the least bit concerned about COVID19 or not bothered at all if they did get it, they were fare more focussed and intent on enjoying the life they had today and were certainly not of a mind to self isolate.

Interesting isn’t it how the older we get, the less concerned about death we seem to get?

sotolol profile image
sotolol in reply toCDreamer

Yes as we know it will be us soon. Enjoy life hard at times I know that only too well. But life goes on. We will all have the reason of death on our death certificate.. we won’t know what it says. Ha ha. You are right the older we get the more the immune system gets weaker. It’s normal it’s life. So .... smile everyday is a bonus. I have been privileged to of lived so long. My son was only 36. Now where is the tea and cake .... oh no the shops have sold out of baking powder. 🥴

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply toCDreamer

Too true CD! I play Whist 3 /4 times a week with the ' elderly '(I'm one of the youngest) who are very sharp. None of them want to stop playing and are of the mindset that if they get the covid 19 virus then so be it. None of them want to stay isolated at home. A few are in their 90s

FredFace profile image
FredFace

Essentially, anyone over 50 is at greater risk, with the risk increasing incrementally for every decade: theguardian.com/world/2020/...

Cardiovascular disease is also a massive at-risk category - hence why I'm here. I'm 34 but have had AFib in the past. Haven't had it for a year and a half, but trying to ascertain if previous AFib attacks puts me in the "you're gonna have a bad time" category.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toFredFace

CV may be a risk factor but not seen anything that suggests Lone AF is.

Risk is relative. A very wise person once told me to only worry about the things I could influence or change. Great advice I have tried to follow.

That may apply to Lifestyle. Best wishes to stay well.

Maggimunro profile image
Maggimunro in reply toFredFace

Thanks Fred, that was a reasoned article in the Guardian, makes a change from the hype.

I understand what you are saying but it’s impossible to make distinctions when offering national advice. For example, take BobD and me. We are both about the same age and have both led blameless lives. I am built like a whippet, with looks that any Adonis would be proud of and the constitution of an ox. And then there’s BobD!! 😂

I rest my case!

But to be slightly more serious, all we can do I think, is listen to the advice provided, apply a bit of common sense. Make sure we have sufficient medication and provisions to get us through a period of self isolation should it be necessary without stripping the shelves of the local supermarket. Look out for neighbours who may be less fortunate and get on with our lives.

AstroFish profile image
AstroFish

I have often wondered this, as where I live we have an elderly population who would be more vulnerable. I am your age exactly, and wonder if I fit the criteria of "elderly", but apart from Afib I am healthy and active and fit.

Goosebumps profile image
Goosebumps

The treasury will have done their sums....and if 100,000 older 'frail' people KTB because of the corona virus in the U.K. then that's £1billion per annum saved off the state pension bill, plus an easier burden for the NHS in future....I'm just saying......

Oh, KTB......I'm fed up with seeing acronyms that I don't understand on this forum so I thought I'd throw in one of my own, let's see who can get it first.

sotolol profile image
sotolol in reply toGoosebumps

I suggested to nurse that gave me my flu gab they should put something in the jab to kill us off. We are costing too much to keep alive. 🥴THE FRAIL AND ELDERLY. No hope then.

sotolol profile image
sotolol in reply toGoosebumps

Love it.

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply toGoosebumps

Kick The Bucket....

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply toGoosebumps

Get it kick the bucket ! Xx

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

75+ likely to have extreme inflammatory reaction leading to organ failure - BBC info.

sotolol profile image
sotolol

👵🏻 most falls are in the home. So yes you are right.

Wightbaby profile image
Wightbaby

Thanks all! Really enjoyed reading your common sense comments as usual!

: )

65 is generally considered the qualifying age. So far as the coronavirus is concerned, the risk goes up considerably after 60. See:

google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theg...

Relevant table is about half way down the page.

Here in the US elderly is over 60. Im soon to b 67 and would like to think elderly is 80 or older, lol.

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply to

80 is still a spring chicken Hidden !

in reply toirene75359

😂😂😂🐣

Hallju profile image
Hallju in reply to

As I read these, that’s what I was thinking. I’m in the US, too, and everything we hear is 60+ (not 65). We must be even more frail here. LOL! 😂 I love the stay-calm comments. Life goes on—even without TP on the shelves.

in reply toHallju

😂

Wightbaby, you just got me thinking, and off on a tangent ..... wouldn't it be nice to have meaningful statistics on all this, WITHOUT all the emotive drama.

For instance .....why not publish the existing statistics but also include - 1) the numbers of people who recover and lead normal lives and 2) the numbers of those who get it with and/or without having a flu jab.

Just sayin' ..... 🙂

John

Wightbaby profile image
Wightbaby in reply to

Yes......!

Shcldavies profile image
Shcldavies

We need to look at what is written, if cardiovascular disease is written then arrhythmia sufferers are not included, if cardiovascular condition is written then it is.

Shcldavies profile image
Shcldavies

In the table it says "Cardiovascular Disease", that implies it should not affect people with an arrhythmia (as its not a disease its a condition). Should be quite straight forward, however its not as many journalists use the word disease and condition interchangeably and that is why we are all unsure as to what is meant. The administer on this site has said that those with cardiovascular issues (which includes arrhythmia) may have an higher risk of more severe conditions and it may be more dangerous. When our administer says "cardiovascular issues" I would say that it actually is any issue including arrhythmia so my money is that it does affect us - but!

sotolol profile image
sotolol

I get told AF is a condition?

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

Well, I love the Island but happy to leave it for the time being to the people who live there and may need its resources

Chezz123 profile image
Chezz123

Think but no promises elderly may be related to the vulnerable group of 70 yrs plus ?

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Covid-19

Hi there. So are people with AF deemed to be a high risk if/when we get the coronavirus Covid 19...
Tototcx profile image

Covid 19

I watched Dr van Tulleken on BBC this morning describe how his brother, also a doctor, has just...
bfastgirl profile image

Covid-19 Fatigue?

My social life has been cancelled, I’m in an at risk category (not just AF), I’m been waiting for...
LindaDaisy profile image

What is the difference please ?

I have had another episode of very fast heartbeat ( 200) which was very frightening , but when I...
Janna501 profile image

Covid 19 & AF

Just got my letter from Matt Hancock saying : "We are writing to you because you have previously...

Moderation team

See all
KirstyC-Admin profile image
KirstyC-AdminAdministrator
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.